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    Home Β» Recipes Β» Drinks

    HK Milk Tea Bubble Tea

    Published: Apr 25, 2020 by Michelle Β· 25 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This is simple homemade recipe for HK Milk Tea Bubble Tea -- full of strong black tea, rich, creamy condensed milk, and hand-rolled tapioca pearls.

    Glasses of HK milk tea with boba pearls, straw, on a white marble coaster, small plate of boba pearls on the side.
    One of my favourite flavours of bubble tea is HK milk tea.

    Maybe it's me becoming older, but I've shied away from the fruity teas in favour of more caffeinated versions.

    I've covered how to make tapioca/boba pearls in this post, so this is just a post on how to make Hong Kong/ HK Milk Tea since I had a few people ask me for my recipe.

    What is Hong Kong milk tea?

    It's a drink consisting of black tea and milk or evaporated, sweetened with condensed milk or sugar.

    Traditionally, it is made with pantyhose or silk stocking as a filter for the tea leaves. This method has been said to produce a smoother tea.

    However, in the interest of simplicity, you don't need to have a silk stocking or pantyhose on hand to make delicious HK milk tea.

    Why this recipe works

    The tea has a strong, rich flavour.

    It's easy to make, with little hands on time (no stocking needed!).

    And it's super affordable to make at home!

    Glasses of HK milk tea with boba pearls, straw, on a white marble coaster, small plate of boba pearls on the side.

    Ingredients you'll need

    • black tea: I like using a strong Ceylon tea
    • sweetened condensed milk: or evaporated milk
    • granulated sugar: if not using condensed milk

    I prefer to use finely ground Ceylon black tea for my milk tea as it gives a strong, concentrated flavour. 

    Condensed milk is already sweetened and has a richer, creamier feel.

    You can use evaporated milk and sugar and adjust to your liking instead if you don't have condensed milk.

    Make it the night before

    Bring hot water up to a boil.

    Add fine tea leaves to a tea pot with mesh strainer.

    Pour the water into the tea and let it steep for a few minutes. 

    Add condensed milk to the tea and give it a stir. 

    I like to make the tea and mix in the condensed milk the night before so it has a chance to chill in the fridge overnight.

    I've found if you add the condensed milk to cooled tea, it won't be as homogeneous and smooth.

    How to assemble

    It's so easy!

    Place in the tapioca pearls at the bottom of the glass, add some ice, and pour in the chilled HK milk tea... then you'll have your very own HK Milk Tea Bubble Tea.

    Add your own additions to the tea, such as coconut jellies, grass jelly, or even egg pudding!

    Other recipes you may like

    Be sure to try these recipes:

    Real Taro Milk Bubble Tea

    CoCo-Inspired Egg Custard Bubble Tea

    Jasmine Milk Tea

    Hope you'll give the recipe a try and let me know what you think -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below! 

    Glasses of HK milk tea with boba pearls and grass jelly, straw, on a white marble coaster, small plate of boba pearls on the side.Glasses of HK milk tea with boba pearls, straw, on a white marble coaster, small plate of boba pearls on the side with text overlay.

    Print Recipe
    5 from 12 votes

    Hong Kong Milk Tea Bubble Tea

    A simple homemade recipe for HK Milk Tea Bubble Tea -- strong black tea, creamy condensed milk, and hand-rolled tapioca pearls.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Asian
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 165kcal
    Author: Michelle

    For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoon finely ground ceylon black tea
    • 3 C hot boiling water
    • 3 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
    • ΒΌ C tapioca/boba pearls
    • grass jelly optional
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    Instructions

    • Place the tea into a tea pot with a mesh strainer. Pour the boiled water over top of the tea. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes.
    • Pour the condensed milk into a clean heat-proof jar. Strain the tea into the jar with the condensed milk and give it a stir.
    • Leave to cool and chill in the refrigerator, preferably overnight.
    • When ready to serve, add in the tapioca/boba pearls into a glass, add some ice cubes, and pour the HK milk tea over top. Stick in a wide straw and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 1mg

    The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.

    Did you try this recipe?Mention @siftandsimmer or tag #siftandsimmer!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. heather (delicious not gorgeous)

      April 26, 2020 at 5:24 pm

      yum!! i love all kinds of milk tea (although when it's hotter, i find that i want the more refreshing tart/bitterness of fruit tea!), but haven't had an hk style in a while. will have to some time this week when i inevitably crave it!

      Reply
      • siftandsimmer@gmail.com

        April 27, 2020 at 8:28 am

        Yea, that's true -- when it's hot outside, fruity drinks definitely hit the spot! Thanks for stopping by, Heather!

    2. Christie

      July 28, 2020 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVE HK milk tea with bubbles! One of my favourite drinks in the world! Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe with us! Now I'm totally craving it!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        July 28, 2020 at 3:23 pm

        HK milk tea is such a classic, great tasting drink! Thanks Christie!

    3. Kimberly

      December 09, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      I’m excited to try this recipe, Hong Kong Milk Tea is my favorite Do you have any recommendations of where to purchase finely ground ceylon black tea? I’m seeing mostly the loose leaf form. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        December 10, 2020 at 9:06 am

        I'm not sure where you're located, but I got my finely ground black tea from a local tea supplier. If you can't find it, you can just use regular black tea bags.

    4. Cathleen

      March 10, 2021 at 9:02 am

      5 stars
      Okay, making this tonight!! Thank you so much for the recipe πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Michelle

        March 10, 2021 at 1:41 pm

        You're welcome! πŸ™‚

    5. Michelle Boule

      March 10, 2021 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      Gorgeous photos! I just moved and have no bubble tea places close to me, can't wait to make this on my own!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        March 10, 2021 at 1:42 pm

        Yes, hope you enjoy! πŸ™‚

    6. Neli Howard

      March 10, 2021 at 9:33 am

      5 stars
      Lovely! And I think this a healthier option compared to commercialized milk tea as well. πŸ™‚ Gorgeous photos!!!!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        March 10, 2021 at 1:43 pm

        Indeed, you can control how sweet you like it! πŸ˜‰

    7. Jessica Formicola

      March 10, 2021 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      I love bubble tea but I've never made it at home! I can't wait to try it- it looks so delicious!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        March 10, 2021 at 1:43 pm

        Thank you Jessica! πŸ™‚

    8. Tara

      March 10, 2021 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      Love Hong Kong milk tea! Yours looks absolutely amazing, especially with the tapioca pearls and grass jelly. So many incredible flavors and textures!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        March 10, 2021 at 1:43 pm

        Aw thanks Tara! Enjoy! πŸ™‚

    9. Elesa shaws

      January 26, 2022 at 10:30 am

      5 stars
      I lovvvee HK style milk tea!! This is the best recipe i have tryed recently! Thankss

      Reply
    10. Sasha

      February 14, 2022 at 9:23 am

      5 stars
      Amazing HK tea! One of the best recipes I've tried πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Michelle

        February 14, 2022 at 11:15 am

        Thanks so much for your comment, Sasha!

    11. Helen

      February 22, 2022 at 6:49 am

      5 stars
      I love how easy this is to make - great recipe, thanks!

      Reply
    12. Toni

      March 12, 2022 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      This is so fun to make and drink! We had an amazing time! Thanks!

      Reply
    13. Ana F

      May 27, 2022 at 6:22 pm

      5 stars
      I never had this before but I'm so glad I tried your recipe! I made it with condensed milk (no sugar), and it turned out so delicious! Definitely recommend making it the night before as you mentioned. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        May 30, 2022 at 1:49 pm

        Thanks so much for trying the recipe, Ana! Glad you enjoyed it! πŸ™‚

    14. Andrea

      June 30, 2022 at 7:50 am

      5 stars
      I've never thought to make my own bubble tea before. Like you, I'm tired of the fruity. This HK Milk tea sounds like my kind of drink. I can't wait to try it.

      Reply
    15. kushigalu

      July 09, 2022 at 4:34 pm

      Bubble tea lover here. This just looks fantastic, Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

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