Go Back
–+ servings
Japanese royal milk tea in a white cup with saucer, shortbread cookies and a golden teaspoon on a light wooden background with sugar cubes, a milk jug and flowers in the background

Japanese Royal Milk Tea

Cook Time3 minutes
Steaming Time7 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Author Yuto Omura
Servings 1 cup

Ingredients 
 

  • 80 ml water plus extra to warm the cup
  • 2 ½ tsp Assam tea loose, approx 5g per cup (see note)
  • 160 ml milk I recommend whole milk or a creamy plant-based alternative like oat milk
  • 2 tsp sweetener of your choice use more or less to taste, I like to use condensed milk for an extra creamy flavor

Instructions 

  • Boil water using your preferred method. For each serving you will need about 80ml to brew the tea and 240ml to warm your serving cup.
    heating a white teacup with hot water
  • Pour 80 ml water into a saucepan and add 2 ½ tsp Assam tea. Stir, then cover with a lid and steep for 1-2 minutes.
    Assam tea leaves steeping in hot water in a pot on the stove top
  • Remove the lid, add 160 ml milk and give it a stir. If you are making one portion for yourself, you can also add your sweetener here. Heat on low until small bubbles appear around the edges, then turn off the heat. Do not let it boil.
    milk added to tea in a pot on the stove
  • Cover with a lid once more, and steep for 3-5 minutes.
    steaming royal milk tea in a pot on the stove with a lid on top
  • Pour the hot water out of the serving cup, then pour the tea through a strainer and into the cup.
    straining royal milk tea into a white teacup with matching saucer
  • If you didn't add your sweetener earlier, you can add it now and adjust the sweetness according to your preference. Enjoy!
    royal milk tea in a white teacup on a matching white saucer

Notes

The base recipe makes one serving of 240ml (1 US cup) which will fit in a standard coffee mug or two small teacups. You can make multiple servings with no change to the steps.
If using teabags, I recommend opening the bag and pouring it out for better flavor extraction. A single tea bag usually contains 3g of tea, so one serving of this recipe requires approx 1½-2 tea bags.
This recipe is for a relatively strong brew. For a softer flavor, reduce the tea leaves by ½ - 1 tsp and follow the lower end of the steaming times suggested.
Avoid boiling the milk or heating it over 70°C (160°F), which can scald it and alter the flavor.
Best served immediately.
To store, transfer to a sealable container and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a pot on the stove, or the microwave (do not boil).