Milk Tea: The Best-Known Varieties
Milk is one of the most popular additives to tea. It's considered essential in many cultures, from the Indian subcontinent to the British Isles and the shores of Taiwan and Japan. In India, buffalo milk has long been a traditional additive to the beloved masala chai. In the UK, English Breakfast teas and Earl Grey teas are often sweetened with a little milk.
Whether you like to drink tea for breakfast or in the afternoon, adding milk is a great way to play around with and enjoy the different aromas of tea. Read on to learn about the most popular types of milk tea and the best varieties to prepare with milk.
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Types of milk tea
Although there are almost as many milk tea recipes as there are countries that consume it, there are some types of milk tea that are especially famous.
British Milk Tea
The British usually drink their tea with milk. Drinking tea the British way usually means brewing it strong and adding a little milk. In Ireland, half-and-half or cream is sometimes added. You can add sugar or honey to your cup of tea, or drink it with just milk and enjoy the natural sweetness present in the tea. Traditional breakfast blends, such as Irish Breakfast and English Breakfast, are often used for this type of milk tea.
Hokkaido milk tea
Hokkaido milk tea is a unique tea-based beverage originating from the Hokkaido region of Japan. Although green teas such as Sencha and Matcha are the most commonly consumed types of tea in Japan, Hokkaido milk tea is actually made from black tea. This tea typically has a robust base, often Assam or strong blends like Irish Breakfast. Hokkaido milk is added to the tea, which is often sweetened with honey, caramel, or brown sugar.
Okinawan milk tea
Okinawan milk tea also originates from Japan. It consists of a rich black tea base blended with milk and Okinawan brown sugar. This special type of brown sugar, also known as kokuto, is made by reducing pure sugarcane juice and has a complex, nuanced flavor and is high in vitamins and minerals.
Boba or bubble tea
Boba, also known as bubble tea or pearl milk tea, is a unique milk tea to which tapioca pearls are added. Although boba can be prepared without milk, milk or condensed milk is often added. This tea is usually served iced. There are many different flavors, from classic black tea versions to fruity, floral, or sweet concoctions. Boba originates in Taiwan, but has been popular worldwide for some years.
Hong Kong style milk tea
Hong Kong milk tea is made with black tea and evaporated or condensed milk. The tea used is usually a strong black tea such as Ceylon, although aged teas such as Pu-erh or red tea are sometimes also used. It originated in Hong Kong and may have its origins in the introduction of the practice of drinking afternoon tea with milk and sugar under British colonial rule.
Masala Chai
Masala Chai also has its origins in British colonization. Drinking tea became popular in India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when British colonists began growing tea in India rather than importing it from China. Masala Chai soon became a popular local beverage in its own right, with traditional Indian spices added to black tea for a unique and satisfying drink. Masala Chai can be made by steeping the tea and spices directly in steamed milk, or by adding milk to a cup of traditionally brewed tea. A chai latte can also be made by frothing the milk.
Thai Tea
Thai tea is made with tea, milk, and sugar. It is usually served as iced tea and prepared with Assam or Ceylon black tea. Thai tea can be flavored with ingredients such as lime, mint, orange blossom, star anise, tamarind, and other spices. Thai tea is often sweetened with sugar or condensed milk.
Lattes
Lattes prepared with tea as a base instead of coffee are becoming increasingly popular as coffee shops expand their tea selections and offer more options to customers who prefer tea to coffee. These lattes are typically prepared with tea and steamed milk and are similar to lattes. The most popular versions of tea lattes are the matcha latte, the chai latte, and the London fog latte, which is prepared with Earl Grey tea.
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Best teas to prepare with milk
Many types of milk tea use robust black teas as a base before adding milk, sugar, spices, and other ingredients. These black teas typically have body and a bold flavor that can withstand the addition of other ingredients without losing flavor. In many cases, milk also helps soften the strong, slightly astringent character of these teas, resulting in a smoother cup of tea.
We don't usually recommend adding milk to more subtle tea varieties, such as green, white, and oolong, as their flavors aren't typically strong enough to withstand milk and are best enjoyed without any additives. These are the types of tea that pair best with milk:
Assam black tea
Assam is a robust black tea named after the Assam region of India where it is grown. It's a popular tea for use in milk teas due to its body and malty, spicy notes. Assam is often an ingredient in blends such as Chai and Irish Breakfast teas .
Ceylon black tea
Ceylon tea is another black tea that goes well with milk. It originates from Sri Lanka, a country known as Ceylon under British colonial rule. Our organic Ceylon black tea is a rich, smooth, and highly aromatic black tea from this beautiful island located south of India.
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Nilgiri black tea
Nilgiri is an Indian black tea named after the southern Indian region where it is grown. Although not as strong as Assam, Nilgiri has a good body that stands up well to the addition of milk. Nilgiri has notes of honey and fruit, and takes on a beautiful coppery color when its leaves are infused.
English breakfast
A classic breakfast tea, English Breakfast features black tea from Ceylon, Assam, and Tanzania in a balanced and rich blend with a touch of natural sweetness. English Breakfast is designed to pair well with milk and sweetener.
Flavored black teas
You can also prepare different types of milk tea using flavored black teas. These teas already contain fruits, flowers, and spices added to a black tea base. Among the most popular flavored black teas that pair well with milk are Chai and Earl Grey.
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Matcha tea
Matcha tea, a tea ground into a fine, deep green powder and produced in Japan, is one of the best teas to make with milk. Its herbaceous and slightly sweet flavor pairs perfectly with milk. We recommend sifting the matcha powder before mixing it with a small amount of steamed milk to form a thick paste, then gradually adding more milk to taste. You can read our article to learn how to make a delicious matcha latte .
Rooibos tea
Although rooibos isn't a tea, as it's not made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, it's a great option if you're looking for a caffeine-free alternative to black tea. Although rooibos doesn't contain caffeine, it has a robust body and an intense flavor similar to black tea. The vanilla rooibos variety is ideal for preparing with milk.