How to Make Milk Tea Like a Barista (2024)

From China and Taiwan to Britain and South America, adding milk to tea is an ancient tradition that dates back for centuries. Milk is a great way to add a creamy texture to your favorite go-to teas or to introduce you to new, more robust tisanes. There are a few rules and techniques you need to master to make the perfect cup of tea every time.

There’s not just one way to add milk to your tea. Whether you like to consume tea cold or hot, there’s an option for you when it's time to brew tea. Keep things interesting by trying out these four popular tea and milk drinks.

How to Make Milk Tea

There are several different kinds of milk tea and we'll go over some of the most popular. Some teas, like our milk oolong tea, come with a creamy, milky taste right when you brew, while other tea blends such as Indian chai benefit from the addition of milk. Whether you enjoy coffeehouse-style lattes or prefer the textured bubble milk tea, drinking tea with milk never gets boring. Read on for the most popular ways to drink milk with your favorite teas.

How to Make Milk Tea Like a Barista (1)

British Milk Tea

No one drinks tea quite like the British. With a national obsession that dates back centuries and social gatherings revolving around tea, the United Kingdom knows how to serve a delicious cup. From royal gatherings to daily chats with friends, tea and crumpets is a staple of British life. If you want to drink tea just like the Brits and Irish across the pond, check out the milk tea recipe instructions below.

How to Make It:

  1. Start with a tea bag or loose leaf tea of your favorite variety. The most popular British teas include Earl Grey, Darjeeling and breakfast blends, but you can opt for more traditional Asian or herbal options as well.
  2. Boil a cup of water to the proper temperature and pour into your teacup or tea pot.
  3. Let the tea steep for the prescribed time. Make sure not to stir or squeeze the tea bag or loose tea leaves while brewing.
  4. Add warm or hot milk to your brewed tea. You can use regular cow milk or an array of alternatives including almond milk, rice milk and soy milk depending on your diet and taste.

It's important to note that milk is used in tea to enhance flavor so you should be careful not to add too much. Adding too much milk will disguise the flavor of the tea and can result in bland cups. Aim to add just enough milk to achieve a tan color. Stir to blend and enjoy.

How to Make Milk Tea Like a Barista (2)

Iced Milk Tea

Nothing says summer quite like a chilled pitcher of iced tea on the porch. Make your iced tea even more delectable by adding milk for a creamy, smooth finish. Iced milk tea is the perfect treat on a sweltering afternoon and you can still garnish with summertime lemons.

How to Make It:

  1. To make sure your iced milk tea is packed with flavor, use two tea bags or 2 tablespoons of loose leaf tea for every 8 ounces of water. Brew the iced tea just as you would a cup of British milk tea — simply bring water to a rolling boil and steep tea leaves for the recommended amount of time.
  2. Add a small amount — about 2 teaspoons — of condensed milk to your tea brew. You can add less or more depending on your taste preferences, but keep in mind that condensed milk is exceptionally sweet so be careful not to overdo it.
  3. Fill your glass or pitcher about halfway full with ice cubes or ice shards. Pour tea brew into a glass and enjoy!

How to Make Milk Tea Like a Barista (3)

Bubble Milk Tea (Boba)

Bubble tea, or boba, is one of the latest tea crazes to hit the Western world. With chewy black tapioca pearls, boba tea originated in Taiwan back in the 1980s before spreading through Southeast Asia and hitting American shores. Originally, boba tea was made with frothy milk in addition to basil seeds or cubes of jelly, although now black tapioca pearls are the norm. You can make this tea using Chinese, Indian, or Ceylon black teas or any true tea or herbal tea you'd like.

How to Make It:

To make this tea, you'll need to get your hands on tapioca pearls. Luckily, that's fairly easy nowadays and you can find boba at Asian grocery stores or on Amazon.

1. Cook Tapioca Pearls

While most tapioca pearls will come with cooking instructions, you should use about 7 parts water to 1 part tapioca pearls. The cook time for boba pearls is about 10 minutes on high heat or until they are soft and chewy. Make sure to stir occasionally to prevent the pearls from sticking.

Once cooked, mix boba with sugar syrup such as simple syrup to add sweetness and preserve any pearls you won't use immediately.

2. Rinse the Pearls and Sweeten

Tapioca pearls should be rinsed with lukewarm or cold water once they have been boiled. Place the pearls in a fine mesh strainer or tea strainer before pouring the water. If you are going to store excess pearls, allow them to cool to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Most boba teas you find in stores are sweetened using powerful sweeteners such as condensed milk. You can use powdered sugar, brown sugar, or classics such as honey to sweeten your bubble milk tea. You can also add a Hong Kong spin to this tea by using condensed milk.

3. Add to Tea

In the meantime, brew your tea following the British guidelines above.

How to Make Milk Tea Like a Barista (4)

Tea Latte

Just like café lattes, tea lattes are made using steamed milk. You can turn just about any tea into a latte from the classic black teas to more exquisite flavors like roasted brown rice and jasmine. Some of the most common teas that are served as lattes include chai tea and green teas.

How to Make It:

1. Add Tea

Start by adding your tea bag or loose leaf tea and tea ball to your cup. You can use a variety of tea vessels including a normal tea mug, a gourd, a to-go mug or a calabash depending on the tea type and your preference.

2. Prepare Water

Boil water to desired temperature and pour into your cup. Remember that some teas require different water temperatures. For herbal teas, use boiling water and aim for a water temperature of 212 F. For green and white teas your hot water should reach between 150 and 180 F. Oolong teas and pu-erh teas develop flavors best at 190 to 200 F, while standard black teas should be around 200 to 212 F.

3. Steep

Most teas should steep from 1 to 5 minutes. Allow your tea to steep for 1 minute and then taste every 30 seconds to get the flavor profile you prefer. Teas that are allowed to steep longer usually have more robust flavor profiles and result in strong tea.

4. Heat Milk

While your tea is steeping, heat 1/2 cup of milk in a saucepan until it steams or pop it into the microwave for 45 seconds. You can use whole milk, half and half, or a milk alternative such as coconut milk or almond milk.

5. Froth Milk

Once heated, transfer the milk into a mug or stainless steel container and use a milk frother to whip the milk. Aim to have about a half inch of froth on top before adding to your tea. If you have a coffee machine that steams milk, you can use that instead. You can also put the milk in a co*cktail shaker and shake vigorously.

6. Add Milk to Tea

Pour the steamed milk into your tea mug and enjoy! If you like to sweeten your tea lattes, do this after combining the milk and tea. Sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon to add a spicy taste.

Mix It Up With Milk

Tea brewing is an art that requires adjusting techniques and methods to suit different teas. The proper way of brewing tea all comes down to water quality, water temperature, steeping time, and using the right amount of tea. Always use fresh water, spring water, or filtered water for the best tea taste. As a general rule, do not use tap water or distilled water as these water types do not develop flavors well. Use the proper temperature for the type of tea you choose. Use a temperature-controlled electric kettle for the most accurate results during your tea making adventures. Make sure to adjust the steep time to your chosen tea type as well.

Stick to whole leaf tea instead of tea bags. Tea bags often contain tea dust and fannings that deliver fewer health benefits and poor flavor. Small tea bag design also does not allow the leaves to fully expand and infuse flavor. Always use high-quality tea to avoid negative side effects from additives and pesticides. Store tea in an airtight container to preserve freshness.

Whether you're throwing a British-themed tea party or lounging by the pool with a tall glass of iced tea, milk makes any tea flavor even more delightful. Tea time doesn't mean you have to drink the same bag or brand forever. The beauty of adding milk to tea is it inspires new flavors and textures in your favorite teas. Plus, the prep time, brewing time, and total time are minimal so you can brew at home without going to a tea shop.

Whether you enjoy a chilled sweet tea with herbal infusions or opt for strong black tea for a classic experience, adding milk is a surefire way to mix things up. Brew hot tea or iced tea depending on your personal preferences and follow the tips in this brewing guide for the perfect pot of tea every time.

How to Make Milk Tea Like a Barista (2024)

FAQs

How do you make milk tea step by step? ›

HOW TO MAKE MILK TEA
  1. Add a Lipton Black Tea teabag to your favorite cup.
  2. Boil water and pour it over the teabag.
  3. Wait 3 to 5 minutes for the tea to brew, without stirromg pr queezing the teabag.
  4. Remove the teabag and pour in a dash of milk. ...
  5. Stir with a spoon to blend evenly.

What are the five steps to making milk tea? ›

Instructions
  1. Begin with boiling water in a pan or kettle. ...
  2. In your cup, add your teabag or your tea drop. ...
  3. Add your hot water to the cup and let the brew steep for 5 minutes. ...
  4. Strain the tea or remove the teabag. ...
  5. Add in your sugar and stir well until all the sugar has dissolved.
Mar 1, 2021

How do I make my milk tea creamy? ›

Let your tea brew until it's nice and dark (around 3 minutes) and then add evaporated milk – you need from a fifth to a third of a cup. If you want it extra milky, add a tablespoon of condensed milk instead of sugar.

What is milk tea barista called? ›

If they are working in a restaurant, it is called a tea sommelier. This term would be equivalent to sommelier (or more specifically wine sommelier) and barista. For example, there are certificate programs to become a tea sommelier. n. a restaurant worker employed as an expert on teas.

How do you make barista tea? ›

To brew a perfect cup of tea, follow these basic tips from the barista's notebook.
  1. Use full leaf tea. ...
  2. Don't worry too much about the steps. ...
  3. Steep for the recommended amount of time. ...
  4. Steam milk to about 155 degrees for sweetest, creamiest flavor. ...
  5. Heat water to about 185 degree for best steeping.

What are the 7 elements for making tea? ›

Seven Steps to Great Tea
  • Step 1: Use Good Tea. This almost always means loose leaf tea. ...
  • Step 2: Use Good Water. ...
  • Step 3: Measure Your Tea. ...
  • Step 4: Measure the Water Temperature. ...
  • Step 5: Time Your Steep. ...
  • Step 6: Allow for Full Leaf Expansion. ...
  • Step 7: Stop the Steep.
Feb 18, 2016

What are the golden rules of making tea? ›

To help you enjoy that perfect cuppa, we've listed 5 golden rules to follow for the ideal brew.
  • Start with good quality tea. ...
  • Use fresh water. ...
  • Heat the water to the correct temperature. ...
  • Measure the quantity of tea carefully. ...
  • Let the tea brew for the recommended time.
Aug 13, 2019

What are the 7 steps to make a cup of tea? ›

How to make a cup of tea?
  1. Fill up the kettle with water.
  2. Boil the kettle.
  3. Place a teabag in your favourite mug.
  4. Pour boiling water into your favourite mug.
  5. Brew the tea for a few moments.
  6. Remove and dispose of the teabag.
  7. Add milk.
  8. Add sugar.

How do you make milk tea taste better? ›

Sip The Tea, Don't Gulp It
  1. Black Pepper.
  2. Boil Water.
  3. Brew.
  4. Cardamom.
  5. Drink It Hot.
  6. Froth It Up.
  7. Ginger.
  8. Long Green Tea Leaves.

How do you make tea taste thicker? ›

Add cream instead of milk

Cream may give an extra thickness to your tea and works great with strong malty black teas.

How do I make my milk creamy and thick? ›

Cornstarch is used to thicken milk to help reproduce the texture of heavy cream. To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken.

What makes a milk a barista blend? ›

The next time you order a latte, ask if the milk is super. Super milk, sometimes called barista milk, has more protein than the regular product, and it is extra fatty and extra creamy. What's more, it produces a microfoam with an exceptional porcelain sheen -- excellent for latte art.

What are barista skills? ›

  • Alongside some of these more general skill, good Baristas should possess:
  • Great communication skills.
  • A happy, friendly personality.
  • Customer service skills and knowledge.
  • High level of attention-to-detail.
  • Good level of literacy and numeracy.
  • Enthusiasm to develop your skills and knowledge.

What are the 6 steps to making tea? ›

We put together a foolproof guide to help you brew the perfect cup of tea each time, in only six steps.
  1. Heat the water to just about boiling point. ...
  2. Add your tea bags to your pot or cup. ...
  3. Pour the water directly onto the tea bags.
  4. Stir the tea once, and then let it steep for 1.5-2 minutes. ...
  5. Remove the tea bags.

How to make chai tea like a barista? ›

  1. Step 1: Roast Spices. Skip this step if you are using ground spices. ...
  2. Step 2: Brew Tea. Pour water into a medium pan and add fresh ginger and toasted spices. ...
  3. Step 3: Steep, Sweeten, and Strain. Remove the hot water from the stovetop and add in the tea leaves or tea bags. ...
  4. Step 4: Froth Milk. ...
  5. Step 5: Pour and Enjoy!

What does a tea barista do? ›

A Barista is a professional who makes and serves beverages such as coffee, tea and specialty beverages. They are responsible for taking customer orders and payments. They also clean and sanitize their work areas, seating areas and equipment/tools.

What is the formula of making tea? ›

Or, as the scientists at the University of Northumbria put it in their formula: TB + (H2O at 100 degrees centigrade) 2mins BT + C (10ml) 6mins BT = PC (at OT 60 degrees centigrade). If you're wondering, TB means tea bag, BT is brewing time, C is milk, PC means perfect cuppa, and OT stands for optimum temperature.

What are the four principles of tea? ›

The tea ceremony is marked by four basic principles: Harmony (wa), Respect (kei), Purity (sei), Tranquility (jaku). In the tea ceremony, every movement, every step and every moment is precisely defined.

How do you make a 3 step tea? ›

Step 1: Put a tea bag in a mug or large glass container (if making for a crowd). Step 2: Bring water to a rolling boil, then pour over the tea bag and steep tea according to the directions above. Step 3: Once the steeping time is over, remove the tea bag (or bags).

What are the 7 golden rules? ›

Necessary, Proportionate, Relevant, Adequate, Accurate, Timely and Secure. Ensure the information you share is necessary for the purpose for which you share it. You should share it only with those people who need to have it, your information is accurate, up-to-date, shared in a timely fashion and also shared securely.

How do you make tea for beginners? ›

The instructions: Put a couple pinches of tea leaves in your glass, then fill it with hot water. Let steep for a minute, then sip, using your lips to filter out the tea leaves. Add more water, re-steep, and repeat for as long as you want. No muss, no fuss, no obsessing over water temperature or steeping times.

How do you make tea Class 9? ›

Steps for making tea:
  1. Add a cup of milk to the vessel and heat it, which acts as a solvent.
  2. The tea powder or tea leaves act as a solute added to the boiling milk and continue heating.
  3. The solute here tea powder or tea leaves remains insoluble in the milk, which can be seen when it is still boiling.

What is perfect ratio of milk and water in tea? ›

Aiming for a 50% water 50% milk proportion: If making it this way, unless you opt for a plant milk, you won't need to increase the amount of tea used. It's best to make the water part of the tea first, before adding the milk.

How do you make tea process in 100 words? ›

Write a task in 100-120 words giving description of a process for 'preparing tea' based on the hints given below : (i) To prepare tea is easy (ii) Boil water in kettle (iii) Add tea-leaves, sugar, milk, cardamom, ginger etc. (iv) Boil it (v) Sieve and sip. See what the community says and unlock a badge.

How do I make my tea taste like a pro? ›

Here is How to Sip Tea Like a Pro
  1. Pick up and Observe. Pick up the cup by the brim. ...
  2. Smell the Liquor Aroma. Before we sip the tea, have a smell of the liquor aroma, breath out to the side so that we won't blow the aroma away. ...
  3. Sip the Tea. ...
  4. Breathe over the Tea. ...
  5. Slowly Swallow. ...
  6. Allow Time Between Sips. ...
  7. Sip and Repeat.
Sep 29, 2019

What makes tea more tasty? ›

Lemon or lime will add a nice boost of citrus.

Lemon is also a weight-loss friendly way to dilute the intense flavor of black tea. Rather than adding sugar, milk or sweetener, a squeeze of lemon will add some natural sugar to your tea without loading on the calories.

What makes a tea high quality? ›

When steeped, excellent tea should be deeply aromatic and amplify the unique scents of the dry tea leaves. Taste: Great tea will have a strong, recognizable taste and mouthfeel. Sip slowly, allowing the tea to roll over different parts of your tongue; you should be able notice different flavor notes and mouthfeels.

How long should milk tea boil? ›

In a milk pan or small saucepan, add warm water and bring to a boil. When the water is boiling, add tea leaves and reduce the heat and simmer for 90 seconds to 2 minutes.

How do you make tea less boring? ›

How to Make Tea Taste Better by Adding Different Ingredients?
  1. Ginger. It is the most commonly used spice to give additional flavors to the tea. ...
  2. Honey. ...
  3. Lemon. ...
  4. Cinnamon or other spices. ...
  5. Add coconut milk or almond milk. ...
  6. Add fruits or fruit juices to your tea. ...
  7. Maple syrup. ...
  8. Adding rose.
Aug 5, 2021

Why does tea taste better milk first? ›

You can add as little or as much as you please—though adding milk first and then pouring the tea on top might make it taste better. This is because when you add hot tea to cold milk, you're bringing the milk to the temperature of the tea, distributing the flavor more evenly.

Why does my tea not taste right? ›

The mineral content, chlorine and pH levels can affect both the flavour and aroma of the tea, even if its subtle. Try filtering your water (tap water quality varies from place to place) or using spring water and see if you notice a difference.

Why doesn't my tea taste like anything? ›

Water that has been sitting in a kettle a while, or more likely boiled over and over again, will lack oxygen, leaving your cup of tea tasting flat. So if you tend to flip the switch on your kettle and reheat water that's already in there, start again by filling your kettle with fresh water.

Does tea get stronger the longer you boil it? ›

The longer you steep your tea, the stronger it will be. While this can sometimes be a good thing, as in the case of hearty, robust black teas or some herbal teas, infusing your tea for too long can also result in an unpleasantly bitter, over-strong taste.

How do I make my milk more fluffy? ›

8 Ways to Froth Milk
  1. 1 - Shaking in a jar. The first method is super simple. ...
  2. 2 - Whisking by hand. Warm your milk and whisk it vigorously by hand. ...
  3. 3 - Electric mixer. Heat milk. ...
  4. 4 - Frothing wand. Warm your milk. ...
  5. 5 - Blender. ...
  6. 6 - Immersion blender. ...
  7. 7 - Pump frother. ...
  8. 8 - French press.
Jan 11, 2017

How do you get perfect milk texture? ›

Texturing milk includes aerating the milk to its desired froth level before bringing it to the right temperature (60 to 65°C). As a simple rule, the more air you add to the milk, the more froth you build. You need to do this while the milk is cold in order to stretch the proteins, which helps build silky smooth foam.

How do I make milk taste like heavy cream? ›

Milk and cornstarch

Cornstarch is used to thicken milk to help reproduce the texture of heavy cream. To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken.

What is barista style milk? ›

Barista editions are specifically formulated for use in coffee. Usually, the difference between regular and barista plant-based milk is in the fat and protein content as well as the presence of emulsifiers, thickeners, and acidity regulators.

Why do baristas tap the milk? ›

By banging the jug you are helping gravity come into effect and separate the milk and foam, which you then have to re-texture to pour.

What does barista style milk mean? ›

In a nutshell, barista-style milk incorporates more fat in order to produce a creamier texture similar to dairy. The most basic plant-based milk you buy at the grocery store may not be made with this intent in mind and won't have the fat content needed to create this texture.

What is the best milk to use for frothing? ›

What is the best type of milk for frothing? Whole milk (full cream milk) creates a thicker, creamier foam when frothed, giving more body to your coffee drink. Low-fat milk and skim milk are much lighter and create larger quantities of foam with larger air bubbles for a more delicate latte or cappuccino.

How hot should barista milk be? ›

In a cafe, your barista is aiming to heat the milk to somewhere between 60-65degrees and 70degrees for extra hot. The temperature of the milk can also be your best friend in adjusting your final foam level, but I will delve into that in more detail later.

How can I be an amazing barista? ›

Follow our seven essential tips to rock this coffee making role.
  1. Become a coffee expert. Being an expert on what you sell will get you brownie points with your boss and tips from your customers. ...
  2. Smile. ...
  3. Build rapport with customers. ...
  4. Listen up! ...
  5. Upsell without being salesy. ...
  6. Keep your cool. ...
  7. Add a special touch.
Feb 17, 2021

What makes a good barista answer? ›

“A good barista needs to know how to use the equipment in that particular shop—and how to clean it. They should know how to make all the popular coffee drinks and be open to learning others. They also need to have passion for coffee and study bean origins and new trends.”

How to make tea step by step? ›

How to make a cup of tea?
  1. Fill up the kettle with water.
  2. Boil the kettle.
  3. Place a teabag in your favourite mug.
  4. Pour boiling water into your favourite mug.
  5. Brew the tea for a few moments.
  6. Remove and dispose of the teabag.
  7. Add milk.
  8. Add sugar.

What is the secret to making good tea? ›

For a full-flavored cup of tea, use one teaspoon of leaves for every cup. It is important to let the water that you boiled cool down for 30 seconds to a minute. Using water that is too hot, scorches the leaves and tends to make the tea bitter.

How to make tea for beginners? ›

The instructions: Put a couple pinches of tea leaves in your glass, then fill it with hot water. Let steep for a minute, then sip, using your lips to filter out the tea leaves. Add more water, re-steep, and repeat for as long as you want. No muss, no fuss, no obsessing over water temperature or steeping times.

What are the 4 main types of teas? ›

They are 4 main varieties of tea: White Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea, and Black Tea.

What is the formula of milk tea? ›

A balanced bubble tea that is both sweet and milky: 1¾ cups tea, ¼ cup milk, ¼ cup syrup, ¼ cup ice, ½ cup tapioca pearls. For a less icy drink: only add ⅛ cup ice and ½ cup tapioca pearls. For a drink with more boba pearls: only add ¼ cup ice and ¾ cup tapioca pearls.

What kind of milk is used in milk tea? ›

Furthermore, creamer milks will go better with teas. Thus, whole dairy milk is your best bet. If you're dairy free then you should opt for either almond or cashew milk which replicates the creaminess of whole dairy milk.

How do you make milk tea not watery? ›

2 minutes steep time, with each additional steep around 1 1/2 minutes So, if you ever taste tea that is too thin, you now know that the tea needs to be steeped for a longer amount of time.

How do you make tea short paragraph? ›

I put the kettle with water on it. When the water was boiling, I put tealeaves into it. After 3-4 minutes, I put some milk and some sugar into it. Now the tea was ready.

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