Original Milk Tea Recipe

Time15m

Serves3

Make Original Milk Tea Recipe in just 15m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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1
Boil water
Bring 3 cups of water to a rolling boil in a small saucepan or kettle over high heat.
2
Steep tea
Remove from heat. Add 3 tsp loose black tea (or 3 strong black tea bags). Let steep, covered, for 4–6 minutes depending on desired strength (6 minutes for very strong, 4 minutes for moderate).
3
Sweeten while hot
Remove tea leaves or tea bags, squeezing gently to extract flavor. Stir in 2 tbsp granulated sugar while the tea is still hot until fully dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness; add up to 1 tbsp more if you prefer sweeter tea.
4
Concentrate (optional)
If you want a stronger, milk-forward flavor, simmer the sweetened tea over low heat for 2–3 minutes to concentrate slightly, then remove from heat and let cool for 2–3 minutes.

5
Heat or chill milk
For hot milk tea: warm 1 cup whole milk (and 2 tbsp evaporated milk if using) in a small saucepan over low heat until hot but not boiling (about 3–4 minutes). For iced milk tea: use cold milk straight from the fridge and prepare ice.
6
Combine tea and milk
For hot milk tea: pour the hot, sweetened tea (about 3 cups) through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof pitcher, then stir in the warmed milk. Taste and add extra sugar or a splash of evaporated milk if desired. For iced milk tea: fill a tall glass with ice, pour in about 1 to 1 1/4 cups of the strained sweetened tea, then add 1 cup cold milk; stir to combine.
7
Adjust & serve
Taste and adjust sweetness or milk ratio. If serving iced and you want a sweeter finish, add a teaspoon or two of tea syrup or dissolve extra sugar in a tablespoon of hot tea and stir in. Serve hot immediately in cups, or iced in a tall glass with straw.
8
Storage
Leftover brewed sweetened tea (without added milk) can be refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Add fresh milk when serving to preserve flavor and texture.