CEBU, Philippines – As famous restaurants, tea houses and milk tea brands are liable to keep their respective milk tea recipes as well-kept secrets. Their dedication to secrecy is really no reason why you can't create your own milk tea blend, making do with the most basic, easy to find ingredients.
Often mistaken to be a tea-with-milk-poured-in affair, attaining milk tea's smooth, creamy texture is easy to pull off, one which essentially involves boiling tea and milk together - not simply adding milk to prepared teas.
Below is a simple take in making a basic variation of Hong Kong's popular milk tea blend, one which has gained a reputation as a refreshing beverage in different parts of the world.
What You'll Need
Water, tea (black, preferably the "loose" type, though you can still utilize those packaged in tea bags), milk (either condensed or evaporated), sugar/honey (to taste).
Preparation
Combine 1 cup of medium boiling water with 2 tablespoons of tea in a medium-sized macaroni pot/saucepan.
Bring to a boil for 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove the medium-sized macaroni pot/saucepan from the heat, and add 400 ml of milk. Stir well, combining the milk and tea.
Bring to a boil again for 3 to 5 minutes.
Strain using a strainer or pour the contents to a tea pot for "loose" teas.
Serve hot or cold, adding sugar/honey, to taste.