Best Milk Tea Flavour

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Are you looking to try milk bubble tea but don’t know where to start? No problem! We’ve got you covered!

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Best Milk Tea Flavour

With so many different flavours and types of the popular Taiwanese treat, finding the perfect flavour can be a challenge. Most milk bubble tea menus are full of toppings, flavours, milk, and sweetness, and they really can leave your head spinning!

With this guide, you’ll find out everything you need to know about milk bubble tea, the best flavours, the perfect topping choices, and how you can make it at home.

What Is Milk Bubble Tea?

Milk bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is a tea drink created in Taiwan in the 1980s. Nowadays, the drink is popular all over the world, and bubble tea shops can be found on most high streets.

Milk bubble tea is made up of four key ingredients – brewed tea, milk, flavouring or sweetener, and tapioca pearls. This mixture is then shaken with ice and served with a thick straw for the toppings.

Most tea shops will also ask how sweet you’d like your milk tea, how much ice you’d like in it, and if you want any additional toppings alongside or instead of tapioca pearls.

Best Flavours

Strawberry Milk Tea

We can’t start this list without mentioning strawberry milk! An iconic milk beverage flavour, strawberry milk tea is simple, creamy, and delicious.

It’s made like any other bubble tea, and needs creamer, sweetener, and fresh strawberries for the perfect strawberry concoction! You can even add a thicker milk product for a smoothie-like texture.

How To Make At Home

You will need:

  • 3 black or green tea bags
  • 1 cup of hot water
  • 4 cups of strawberry milk
  • ½ cup of quick-cooking tapioca pearls
  • 4 tablespoons of sugar syrup

Follow these instructions to make strawberry milk tea:

  • Steep the tea bags in hot water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger tea flavour, you can steep the tea and store it in the fridge for up to a day before making your tea.
  • While the tea is steeping, prepare the tapioca according to the package direction on the hob. Quick-cooking tapioca usually needs 5 minutes of boiling and 5 minutes of resting.
  • Remove the tapioca pearls from the pot using a slotted spoon and transfer them into a bowl with 4 tablespoons of sugar syrup.
  • Divide your prepared tapioca and tea among 4 glasses, and top each with strawberry milk and ice.

Black Milk Tea

Black milk tea is a classic flavour – it is the vanilla ice cream of bubble tea! As one of the first milk teas available, it is still the most popular bubble tea flavour today.

It’s easy to make at home too, needing only black tea from your local supermarket, sweetened condensed milk, sugar syrup, and tapioca pearls if you wish.

How To Make At Home

You will need:

  • 1 black tea bag
  • 2 cups of hot water
  • ½ cup of milk or milk alternative
  • ½ cup of quick-cooking tapioca pearls
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup

Follow these instructions to make black milk tea:

  • Steep the tea bag in hot water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger tea flavour, you can steep the tea and store it in the fridge for up to a day before making your tea.
  • While the tea is steeping, prepare the tapioca according to the package direction on the hob. Quick-cooking tapioca usually needs 5 minutes of boiling and 5 minutes of resting.
  • Remove the tapioca pearls from the pot using a slotted spoon and transfer them into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup.
  • Add your tapioca mixture to a tall glass, pour your tea over the top and add the milk or milk alternative of your choice with ice.

Taro Milk Tea

Taro milk tea is a great flavour choice, especially for the adventurous among us! This creamy and tasty drink is purple in colour and made with taro root powder mix.

While it might look a little odd, it has a refreshing, simple flavour that’s been described as very addicting! The flavour profile is close to vanilla but much richer than your usual vanilla milkshake or latte.

How To Make At Home

You will need:

  • 1 black or jasmine tea bag
  • 2 cups of hot water
  • ⅓ cup of milk or milk alternative
  • ½ cup of quick-cooking tapioca pearls
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup
  • 4 tablespoons of taro powder

Follow these instructions to make taro milk tea:

  • Steep the tea bag in hot water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger tea flavour, you can steep the tea and store it in the fridge for up to a day before making your tea.
  • While the tea is steeping, prepare the tapioca according to the package direction on the hob. Quick-cooking tapioca usually needs 5 minutes of boiling and 5 minutes of resting.
  • Remove the tapioca pearls from the pot using a slotted spoon and transfer them into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup.
  • Add taro powder to your prepared tea and mix well.
  • Add your tapioca mixture to a tall glass, pour your tea over the top and add the milk or milk alternative of your choice with ice.

Matcha Milk Tea

Matcha milk tea is one of the most popular tea flavours, and that’s not just for milk bubble tea! It can be found in supermarkets and at your local coffee shop (Find out about Chef Alice Quillet and Anselme Blayney who runs some of the best cafes in the French Capital here). It’s so versatile and works great in many different beverages.

If you want a deep, earthy tea with a creamy texture, then give matcha milk tea a try!

How To Make At Home

You will need:

  • 1 teaspoon of matcha green tea powder
  • 2 tablespoons of hot water
  • 1 cup of milk or milk alternative
  • 2 tablespoons of honey or sugar syrup
  • ½ cup of quick-cooking tapioca pearls

Follow these instructions to make matcha milk tea:

  • Combine matcha green tea powder with hot water and let bloom for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • While the tea is blooming, prepare the tapioca according to the package direction on the hob. Quick-cooking tapioca usually needs 5 minutes of boiling and 5 minutes of resting.
  • Remove the tapioca pearls from the pot using a slotted spoon and transfer them into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of honey or sugar syrup.
  • Add your matcha tea to milk or milk alternative.
  • Add your tapioca mixture to a tall glass and pour your matcha tea and milk mixture over the top with ice.

Thai Milk Tea

Thai milk tea is a go-to favourite among bubble tea lovers! This orange tea is sweet and creamy, with a silky texture and a deeper flavour than traditional black milk tea.

It is made with a range of spices, including tamarind, cinnamon, and star anise. It’s easy to make at home with pre-made Thai tea mix or you can make your own mix for a flavour that suits your taste.

How To Make At Home

You will need:

  • 1 cup of Thai tea mix
  • 5 cups of hot water
  • ¼ cup of granulated sugar 
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup
  • 1 cup of milk or milk alternative
  • ½ cup of quick-cooking tapioca pearls

Follow these instructions to make Thai milk tea:

  • Add Thai tea mix and sugar to hot water and simmer over the hob on low heat for two minutes while stirring. Then, remove from heat and allow the tea to steep for at least 15 minutes. For a stronger tea flavour, you can steep the tea and store it in the fridge for up to a day before making your tea.
  • While the tea is steeping, prepare the tapioca according to the package direction on the hob. Quick-cooking tapioca usually needs 5 minutes of boiling and 5 minutes of resting.
  • Remove the tapioca pearls from the pot using a slotted spoon and transfer them into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup.
  • Strain the tea to separate any solids.
  • Add your tapioca mixture to a tall glass, pour your tea over the top and add the milk or milk alternative of your choice with ice.

Honeydew Milk Tea

Best with fresh honeydew melon, honeydew milk tea is a must-try flavour for any bubble tea drinker. With the sweetness of the fresh honeydew and its unique flavour, honeydew milk tea is both refreshing and delicious!

This flavour is perfect for those who don’t want their milk tea to be too sweet.

How To Make At Home

You will need:

  • 1 black or green tea bag
  • 1 cup of hot water
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup
  • ½ a ripe honeydew melon
  • 1 cup of milk or milk alternative
  • ½ cup of quick-cooking tapioca pearls

Follow these instructions to make honeydew milk tea:

  • Steep the tea bag in hot water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger tea flavour, you can steep the tea and store it in the fridge for up to a day before making your tea.
  • While the tea is steeping, prepare the tapioca according to the package direction on the hob. Quick-cooking tapioca usually needs 5 minutes of boiling and 5 minutes of resting.
  • Remove the tapioca pearls from the pot using a slotted spoon and transfer them into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup.
  • Peel the honeydew melon and remove all the seeds. Cut into small pieces and add to a blender with milk or milk alternative. Blend until smooth.
  • Add your tapioca mixture to a tall glass, pour your tea over the top and add the honeydew milk with ice.

Brown Sugar Milk Tea

One of the best and most popular flavours available, brown sugar milk tea, or tiger milk tea, is a tasty but simple twist on traditional black milk tea. Its sweet flavour makes for the perfect treat and will leave you wanting more. Anyone new to milk tea needs to give this flavour a try!

How To Make At Home

You will need:

  • 2 black tea bags
  • 1 cup of hot water
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup
  • 1 cup of milk or milk alternative
  • ½ cup of quick-cooking tapioca pearls.

Follow these instructions to make brown sugar milk tea:

  • Steep the tea bags in hot water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger tea flavour, you can steep the tea and store it in the fridge for up to a day before making your tea.
  • While the tea is steeping, prepare the tapioca according to the package direction on the hob. Quick-cooking tapioca usually needs 5 minutes of boiling and 5 minutes of resting.
  • Remove the tapioca pearls from the pot using a slotted spoon and transfer them into a bowl with 1 tablespoon of sugar syrup.
  • Remove the tapioca pearls from the pot using a slotted spoon and transfer them into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup.
  • Add your tapioca mixture to a tall glass, pour your tea over the top and add the milk or milk alternative of your choice with ice. Drip your remaining brown sugar syrup on top and serve.

Buyer’s Guide

Now that you know all the best flavours out there, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about milk bubble tea, including toppings, different teas, milk, sweetness, and ice level.

Tea Base

When ordering your milk bubble tea, first you need to consider which type of tea you want. Most bubble teas are made with either black tea, green tea, or oolong tea.

Black tea is the most popular option for both milk and fruit bubble teas, while green tea is used more in milk teas. Green oolong tea is also a popular choice among bubble tea drinkers.

Milk

Milk or milk alternatives are used in milk bubble tea to create a creamy texture. You can use any type of milk for different flavour variations, or just to meet your dietary requirements.

Some dairy or dairy-like products that can be used include fresh milk, sweetened condensed milk, soy milk, coconut milk, lactose-free milk, non-dairy creamer, and yoghurt-like drinks.

Ice and Sweetness Level

Bubble milk tea is all about customisation and finding the right combination that suits you! Most bubble tea shops will have a chart that specifies the ice and sweetness levels that you can have in your beverage.

The sweetness levels available are usually:

  • No sugar
  • Less sugar
  • Half sugar
  • Regular sugar
  • Extra sugar

The ice levels available are usually:

  • Extra ice
  • Regular ice
  • Less ice
  • Half ice
  • No ice
  • Warm
  • Hot

Toppings

Bubble milk tea also has an incredible amount of toppings to choose from when buying in-store. Some of the most popular toppings include:

  • Tapioca pearls – These are small, round balls of boiled tapioca starch, which have a chewy texture and almost no flavour. They are the most popular topping for bubble tea due to their versatility
  • Jelly – There are a few variations of jelly you can have in your bubble tea, but some of the most popular are grass jelly, aloe jelly, or coconut jelly.
  • Pudding – For a more indulgent drink, you can add thick custard pudding that comes in a variety of flavours, such as coffee and taro.
  • Popping boba – Much like tapioca pearls, popping boba are small balls filled with fruit juice that pop in your mouth. They come in a range of flavours, such as raspberry, strawberry, and green apple.
  • Red bean – This is an incredibly popular Asian dessert made from adzuki beans simmered with sugar until chewy. It has a sweet, earthy flavour, which is perfect in milk bubble tea.

Perfect Combinations

For a delicious milk bubble tea, try these combinations when choosing your flavour and toppings!

  • Strawberry milk tea with fresh strawberries, cream cheese, or raspberry popping boba.
  • Black milk tea with coffee jelly or coconut jelly.
  • Taro milk tea with coconut jelly, grass jelly, or taro chunks.
  • Matcha milk tea with tapioca pearls or red bean.
  • Thai milk tea with tapioca pearls, coffee jelly, or coconut jelly.
  • Honeydew milk tea with melon popping boba, whipped cream, or milk foam.
  • Brown sugar milk tea with brown sugar popping boba, tapioca pearls, or caramel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Order Milk Tea?

Every bubble tea shop has its own way of ordering, however, the majority of the time you will place your order as follows:

  • Size
  • Tea Base
  • Milk
  • Toppings
  • Sugar level
  • Ice level

Do I Have to Have Toppings?

You don’t have to have toppings in your bubble tea, however, many people believe there’s no point in having it without them! It adds extra texture to your drink as well as creates incredible flavour combinations with your drink base.

Is Milk Tea Hot or Cold?

That’s up to you! Whether it’s the dead of winter or the middle of summer, you can have your bubble milk tea as hot or as cold as you like.

Final Thoughts

That’s everything you need to know about the best milk tea flavours out there! If you’re new to bubble tea, then this guide will help you decide where to start. You won’t be disappointed with the options available to you.

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Jeff Pratt
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