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–+ servings

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 

  • Pour 80 ml water into a saucepan, plus enough to warm your cup (approx 240ml). Bring to a rolling boil, then turn off the heat. Pour the hot water into your cup, making sure there is 80 ml water left in the pan.
    heating a white teacup with hot water
  • Add 2 ½ tsp Assam tea to the pan and mix.
    Assam tea leaves steeping in hot water in a pot on the stove top
  • Place a lid on top of the pan and steep for 1-2 minutes.
    lid placed over steeping tea in a pot on the stove
  • Remove the lid, add 160 ml milk and 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, and avoid heating over 70 °C (158 °F) as this can scold the milk and alter the flavor.
    milk added to tea in a pot on the stove
  • Cover with a lid 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 teacup, then pour the tea through a tea 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 it according to your preference. Enjoy!
    royal milk tea in a white teacup on a matching white saucer

Notes

This recipe makes one serving of 240ml (1 US cup) which will fit in a standard coffee mug or two small teacups.
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.
Best served immediately after making.
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).