Creamy Oolong Milk Tea
Creamy oolong milk tea is a rich, toasty beverage made with brewed oolong tea, soy milk, chewy tapioca pearls, and brown sugar syrup. It achieves the perfect balance of flavors and textures entirely from scratch at home.
Creamy oolong milk tea is a rich, toasty beverage made with brewed oolong tea, soy milk, chewy tapioca pearls, and brown sugar syrup. It achieves the perfect balance of flavors and textures entirely from scratch at home.
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Boil the water for the tapioca pearls in a medium-large saucepan. Once boiling, add the tapioca pearls and lower the heat to just under medium.
Simmer them for 15-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking. Cooking time will vary, so check the package for instructions — mine take 30 minutes.
In the meantime, prepare the brown sugar syrup. Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and whisk together. Bring the mixture to a simmer for about 3-5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Reserve ¼ cup, then pour the rest into a medium mixing bowl.
Strain the tapioca pearls through a fine-mesh strainer, rinsing them lightly. Transfer the pearls to the mixing bowl with the syrup and stir to combine. Set aside and let them soak.
Boil water for the tea until it reaches 185-205°F. Brew the oolong tea for 2-3 minutes for a lighter flavor and up to 5 minutes for a more robust, earthy flavor, then strain the tea leaves and let the tea cool to room temperature.
Add 3-4 tablespoons of tapioca pearls to a cup, followed by a handful of ice. Pour 2-4 teaspoons of syrup, then the oolong tea to ½ - ¾ of the way up. Fill the rest with soy milk and stir before serving. Happy drinking!
Store cooked tapioca pearls in brown sugar syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Brew the oolong tea fresh per serving and assemble the drink immediately with ice.
fine-mesh strainer · tea infuser or tea balls
Simmer for 15-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Cooking time varies by brand, so check your package instructions; these typically take 30 minutes.
Heat water to 185-205°F. Brew for 2-3 minutes for a lighter flavor or up to 5 minutes for a more robust, earthy taste.
Yes. Soy milk works well, but you can substitute cow's milk, oat milk, almond milk, or any plant-based alternative to match your preference.
Yes. Cook and soak the pearls in brown sugar syrup up to 4 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator and assemble the tea fresh when ready to serve.
Any loose-leaf oolong tea works; the recipe uses oolong tea balls. Darker roasted oolongs create a more robust, toasty flavor; lighter oolongs are more floral.
