How to Make Milk Tea: A Simple Recipe and Tips

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Many people around the world start their day with a warm cup of tea, but few drinks are as comforting and satisfying as milk tea. Learning how to make milk tea at home can save you money and give you complete control over the taste and sweetness. This creamy, flavorful drink combines the best of both worlds - the rich taste of tea and the smooth texture of milk.

Milk tea has become incredibly popular in recent years, with tea shops opening in cities everywhere. People love this drink because it can be customized to personal preferences and enjoyed hot or cold. The combination of tea, milk, and sweetener creates a perfect balance that appeals to many different tastes and cultures.

In this article, we will share everything you need to know about how to make milk tea at home. from a simple recipe to helpful tips to get the perfect result, you can find it all here. We gathered this guide from various sources, Monday (9/2/2026).

If you want to make the classic milk tea at home, follow this simple recipe:

Ingredients:

- 2 cups water

- 2-3 tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose tea leaves

- 1/2 cup whole milk

- 2-3 teaspoons sugar or sweetener to taste

- Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions:

1. Pour 2 cups of water into a medium saucepan and place it on the stove over high heat. Bring the water to a rolling boil, which usually takes about 5-7 minutes depending on your stove.

2. Once the water is boiling, add your tea bags or loose tea leaves to the pot. Lower the heat to medium and let the tea steep for 3-5 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger your tea will be, so adjust the time based on your preference.

3. If using tea bags, remove them from the pot and gently squeeze out excess liquid before discarding. If using loose tea leaves, pour the tea through a fine strainer into another pot or large measuring cup to remove all the leaves.

4. Pour the milk into the hot tea and stir well to combine. Make sure to stir thoroughly so the milk mixes evenly throughout the tea.

5. Add sugar or your preferred sweetener while the tea is still hot, as this helps it dissolve completely.

6. Pour the milk tea into cups and serve while hot. You can also let it cool and serve over ice for a refreshing cold drink.

Different types of tea create unique flavors and experiences when making milk tea. Here are the most popular and effective tea varieties for creating delicious milk tea at home.

1. Black Tea

Black tea is the most common choice for milk tea because of its strong flavor and dark color. Popular varieties include English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Assam tea. These teas have enough strength to maintain their flavor even when mixed with milk.

2. Ceylon Tea

Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka offers a bright, citrusy flavor that works wonderfully in milk tea. This tea creates a lighter-colored drink but maintains a robust taste that pairs well with both dairy and non-dairy milk options.

3. Oolong Tea

Oolong tea provides a perfect middle ground between green and black tea. It offers complex flavors that range from floral to fruity, making it an excellent choice for people who want something more sophisticated than basic black tea.

4. Green Tea

Green tea creates a lighter, more delicate milk tea with subtle flavors. Japanese sencha or Chinese jasmine green tea work particularly well. The result is a gentler drink that appeals to those who prefer less intense tea flavors.

5. Chai Tea Blend

Chai tea blends contain spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger that add warmth and complexity to milk tea. These pre-mixed blends make it easy to create flavorful spiced milk tea without measuring individual spices.

Milk tea appears in many different forms across various cultures and countries. Each region has developed its own unique preparation methods and flavor combinations that reflect local tastes and traditions. Here are some of the most popular variations of milk tea from around the world:

1. British Milk Tea

British milk tea is the classic version that most people think of when hearing about milk tea. It uses strong black tea, whole milk, and sugar. The British typically add milk after pouring the tea, and many people enjoy it with biscuits or cookies.

2. Indian Chai

Indian chai involves boiling tea leaves directly with milk, water, and spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger. This method creates a rich, creamy drink with complex flavors. Street vendors across India serve this popular beverage throughout the day.

3. Thai Iced Tea

Thai iced tea uses strongly brewed black tea mixed with condensed milk and sugar, served over ice. The distinctive orange color comes from food coloring or special tea blends. This sweet, creamy drink is perfect for hot weather.

4. Taiwanese Bubble Tea

Taiwanese bubble tea combines milk tea with chewy tapioca pearls at the bottom of the cup. This drink can be served hot or cold and comes in many flavors. The pearls add an interesting texture that makes drinking more fun and interactive.

5. Hong Kong Milk Tea

Hong Kong milk tea uses a special blend of black teas that are strained through silk stockings or fine mesh to create an extremely smooth texture. Evaporated milk gives this version its characteristic rich taste and creamy consistency.

6. Mongolian Milk Tea

Mongolian milk tea, called "suutei tsai," combines green tea with milk, salt, and sometimes butter. This savory version provides warmth and energy in cold climates. The salt replaces sugar and creates a completely different flavor profile.

Creating perfect milk tea requires attention to detail and understanding how different elements work together. These helpful tips will ensure your homemade milk tea tastes as good as any professional tea shop.

1. Control Water Temperature

Different teas require different water temperatures for optimal flavor extraction. Black teas need boiling water, while green teas work better with slightly cooler water around 175-185°F. Using the right temperature prevents bitterness and brings out the best taste from your tea.

2. Time Your Steeping Carefully

Steeping time affects both strength and bitterness. Black teas can handle 3-5 minutes, while green teas should steep for only 2-3 minutes. For milk tea, you want stronger black tea that can hold its flavor when mixed with milk, so steep for the full 5 minutes or even slightly longer. Over-steeping creates bitter flavors that overpower the milk and sweetener.

3. Choose the Right Milk

Whole milk creates the creamiest texture and richest flavor, but you can use any type of milk based on dietary preferences. Evaporated milk makes extra rich milk tea, while plant-based alternatives like oat or almond milk offer different flavors and textures.

4. Add Milk at the Right Temperature

Adding cold milk to very hot tea can cause the milk to curdle or create an unpleasant texture. Let the tea cool slightly before adding milk, or warm the milk before combining to ensure smooth integration.

5. Experiment with Sweeteners

Different sweeteners create different flavors and textures. White sugar dissolves easily and provides clean sweetness, while brown sugar adds molasses notes. Honey offers floral sweetness, and condensed milk provides both sweetness and extra creaminess.

6. Strain for Smoothness

Always strain your milk tea to remove any tea particles or undissolved ingredients. This extra step ensures a perfectly smooth drinking experience and prevents any gritty textures that can ruin the enjoyment.

7. Serve at the Right Temperature

Hot milk tea should be served immediately while the temperature is perfect for drinking. Cold milk tea benefits from chilling in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving to allow flavors to meld together properly.