Learn how to create the perfect milk tea in just three simple steps. Whether you want to add boba or keep it classic, you can easily customize the flavor to your liking.

Milk tea, in its most basic form, is simply tea blended with milk. While there are endless variations, the most common version uses black tea and milk, often sweetened with sugar. Another popular type is boba milk tea (also known as bubble tea), which includes chewy tapioca pearls. Originating from Taiwan, boba milk tea has become a global sensation, celebrated for its sweet taste, creamy texture, and satisfying pearls. It can be enjoyed both hot and cold, though it's most commonly served as a refreshing iced beverage.

Milk tea flavor options range from fruity, like mango, to floral, such as rose or chamomile, to comforting and warm, like pumpkin or caramel. However, the most timeless flavor remains brown sugar milk tea. Keep reading to discover how to make your own milk tea, with or without boba.

How to Prepare Milk Tea

If you're not using tapioca pearls or prefer to skip them, no worries! You can still make a delicious brown sugar syrup without the pearls. This recipe makes one large serving of milk tea but can easily be doubled or tripled to serve more people.

Brown Sugar Milk Tea Recipe

For the milk tea:

• ½ cup water
• 2 black tea bags
• ½ cup whole milk
• Ice cubes
• 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk

For the brown sugar syrup and optional boba:

• ¾ cup of water
• 3 tablespoons of brown sugar
• ¼ cup of dried tapioca pearls

1. Boil water for the tea. Pour ½ cup of boiling water into a mug with the tea bags and allow it to steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and let the tea cool completely. Set it aside. The goal is to create a strong black tea concentrate.
2. To prepare the brown sugar syrup, mix the brown sugar and water in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil, then add the tapioca pearls and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the syrup thickens and the tapioca pearls cook. Let it cool slightly.
3. Transfer the brown sugar syrup and boba into a glass. Add ice, tea, whole milk, and sweetened condensed milk, and gently stir with a spoon to combine the ingredients. The result should be a sweet, creamy, light-colored beverage.