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What is milk tea?
Milk tea is a general term used to describe a drink found in many cultures. Most simply, it is a beverage made from a combination of tea and milk (but can include many additional ingredients).
From a piping hot builders brew to an iced boba tea, milk tea can be enjoyed hot or cold and can be made from any tea leaf variety.
In this article, you will discover some of the most popular forms of milk tea from around the globe, how to make them, the potential benefits of drinking milk teas, and much more!
Types of milk tea
Hong Kong milk tea is a delightfully smooth combination of black tea (typically Ceylon), evaporated milk & sweetened condensed milk. Traditionally served piping hot and perfectly sweet, Hong Kong-style milk tea is an integral part of Hong Kong tea culture.1
Originally, a sackcloth bag would have been used to filter the tea leaves, which is why it is sometimes called “silk stocking” milk tea.2
Although milk tea is a street-vendor staple throughout Hong Kong, the exact blends of tea leaves are generally kept secret and vary from seller to seller.
To create a similar taste at home, you could use a combination of Ceylon Orange Pekoe (found in many English Breakfast blends), Assam or Irish Breakfast tea.3
How to make Hong Kong Milk Tea
Want to give it a go? Here’s a tasty, simplified single serving recipe:
- Steep 3 teabags of your choice (a combination of Ceylon and Assam would be preferable) in boiling water for around 5 minutes
- Add ⅓ cup of evaporated milk
- Stir in sweetened condensed milk to taste
Utterly refreshing and originating in Taiwan, bubble tea has been rising in popularity ever since its invention in the 1980s.4
A unique sensory experience, bubble tea gets its name from the bursting balls of flavour (commonly referred to as ‘pearls’ or ‘boba’) found in the drink. These are mostly made from black or white tapioca, but fruit boba options are also widely available.5
There are many flavour and texture combinations available, but bubble tea is generally served over ice and is a fun blend of tea, milk, and boba. The classic version would be made with black tea, black tapioca pearls and frothy milk, although modern versions sometimes don’t include tea at all!
You could try to make your own tapioca balls at home or pick up some ready-made pearls from a speciality store or online.
With its distinctive orange appearance, Thai tea is a popular creamy iced tea served in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries
Although recipes do vary, Thai iced tea is usually made from a Thai tea mix or black tea (often Assam or Ceylon), spices, sugar, and milk (sweetened condensed or evaporated). Infused with star anise, cloves, vanilla and cardamom, this tasty tea has a uniquely rich and spicy flavour profile. If you enjoy masala chai, you may enjoy Thai tea too!
While many people assume Thai tea gets its unusual colour from the punchy spices it contains, they may be surprised to find out it actually comes from food dye (either added to the Thai tea mix or directly to the drink).
How to make Thai Tea – 2 servings
- Add 480ml water to a medium sized saucepan and bring to the boil
- Add 2 black tea bags, 55g honey, 1 anise star, half a smashed cardamom pod and 1 whole clove.
- Stir until sugar has dissolved, and continue to boil for another 3 minutes
- Remove your pan from the heat and let cool for at least 30 minutes (the longer you leave it, the tastier your Thai tea will be!)
- Once cooled and steeped to your liking, strain the tea mixture to remove the tea bags and spices.
- Fill your glasses with crushed ice, pour in your tea mixture and finish up with 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk or coconut milk for a yummy vegan Thai tea.
This gorgeously aromatic blend of black tea, spices, and milk is a popular drink any time of the day. Originating in India and inspired by Ayurvedic practices, Masala chai was first introduced by street vendors (chaiwallahs) in the 1900s.8
Fun fact: masala chai is often referred to as ‘chai tea’, but this is a redundant term as chai actually means ‘tea’ in Hindi!
Not to be confused with a chai latte, masala chai can take a little longer to master if you are mixing your spices from scratch, although ready-made masala chai spice blends, tea bags and loose tea leaf blends can speed up the process.
If you’d like to make your own masala chai spice blend from scratch, you will need 2 cardamom pods, a clove, fresh ginger, black peppercorns and half a cinnamon stick.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of chai tea and how to make it, check out our article on the Health Hub.
Extremely popular in the Middle East, Karak Chai is more subtly spiced and much sweeter than its predecessor, masala chai.9
Milky, sweet, and warming, karak chai will typically only have a couple of spices – but cinnamon and ginger are almost always included. The thick, smooth texture comes from simmering the evaporated milk over low heat for 8-10 minutes before serving.
A popular style of milk tea is the tea latte. Any kind of tea leaves can be used to make a tea latte, from black varieties like Ceylon to matcha.10
You can also use any kind of milk to make a tea latte; dairy or plant-based work perfectly. Here are some of our favourites:
- Matcha Latte
- London Fog
- Chai Latte
- Golden Milk
Benefits of drinking milk tea
1) Packed with antioxidants
Did you know that both green and black teas are rich in flavonoids, which have been shown to reduce oxidative stress in the body?11,12
Researchers in Taiwan and Korea have reported that due to the antioxidant effects of these flavonoids (catechins and polyphenols) found in non-fermented tea, they have been able to draw a positive link between bone health and certain teas.13,14
While more research is needed to confirm this link, it does appear to suggest that habitual tea drinkers may have a lower likelihood of developing osteoporosis and significantly higher bone mineral density (BMD) than non-consumers.
Handpicked content: How to reduce the risk of osteoporosis
2) Lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol
Several studies have investigated the potential cardiovascular benefits of tea drinking with promising outcomes.
Both black tea and green tea (non-fermented) varieties have been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol to varying degrees.15,16
Some studies indicate that the method of tea preparation and the quality of the tea may have an impact on these potential benefits.17 Whereas others have demonstrated that the volume of tea you consume may be more critical. In one study, they found that optimal results came from drinking 5-6 cups of green tea daily.18
That’s a lot of tea!
Please note: some studies suggest that adding milk to tea may limit or even counteract some of these health benefits, while others have observed the opposite effect.19,20
3) Great for bone health
It’s no secret that milk is great for building strong and healthy bones. Milk and other dairy products are one of the best dietary sources of calcium, which is the main mineral found in your bones.21
Not only is milk a fantastic source of calcium, but it is also rich in phosphorous, potassium, vitamin D and B12, which are all very important for bone health.22
Studies have shown that consuming milk and dairy products may reduce the risk of a few musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.23,24
If you follow a dairy-free diet, the NHS recommends aiming to consume one pint of enriched milk-alternative (like oat, rice, or soya milk) per day to ensure you are meeting your daily calcium requirements for good bone health.25 Enjoying this in tasty milk teas is a great way to make sure you are getting all the calcium you need.
Handpicked content: 12 ways to support your bone health
4) Improve your mood & help you sleep
Whole milk is a key source of the amino acid tryptophan, which has been shown to play an important role in the production of serotonin (a mood-modulating neurotransmitter) and melatonin (the hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles).26,27,28
Although tryptophan is important for many normal bodily functions, it is an essential amino acid, so your body cannot produce it. You have to get it from dietary sources. Foods rich in tryptophan have been demonstrated to improve both sleep and mood in elderly people.29
Additionally, there is some evidence that suggests warm milk before bed may help you sleep.30,31,32
Can you drink herbal tea with milk?
While traditional milk teas are super tasty, due to the high concentrations of tea leaves found in milk tea, they can also be very high in caffeine.33
While milk does not always pair well with all herbal teas, rooibos, chamomile, and mint teas can all taste delicious as a milk tea. Almond or coconut milk pairs beautifully with peppermint, and the caramel note of red rooibos is lovely with almost any type of milk. Hibiscus tea makes a lovely base for a fruity boba.
If you are looking to cut down on your caffeine intake or looking for a refreshing daytime drink, a herbal milk tea is a great choice.
Vegan milk tea
If you follow a plant-based diet, you may be wondering if milk tea is vegan. The good news is that you can make milk tea vegan by choosing a plant-based milk alternative like almond, oat, or soya milk.
Some plant-based milks do have slightly different boiling points to dairy milks and may split if overheated, so make sure you keep this in mind when making your own vegan milk tea!
If you would like to find out more about what milk-alternatives are available, check out our ultimate guide to vegan milk here.
The final say...
Milk tea is enjoyed all over the world in many different forms. But whether you choose a smooth and spicy masala chai or a vibrant orange Thai tea, one thing is for sure – it's delicious!
Both tea and milk have many purported benefits, from helping to reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis to helping you sleep well at night. Some research suggests that any potential benefits of tea may be counteracted by adding milk, whereas other studies indicate the addition of milk has no detrimental effects.
If you would like to find out more about different tea varieties available, take a look at our A-Z list of types of tea.
The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments, or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
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