Name: Earl Grey Milk Tea
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 6 min
Ingredients: 3 tbsp earl grey tea; 1 litre water; 250 gr evaporated milk; 250 gr milk; 1 tsp palm sugar (your preference); 1 tbsp tapioca pearls (cooked); 1 tbsp condensed milk

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Earl Grey Milk Tea with the creamy richness of milk and the playful, chewy texture of tapioca pearls is a soothing beverage. This drink offers a unique experience with every sip.

A glass of earl grey milk tea with tapioca pearls and ice cubes.

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I totally fell in love with a simple cup of Earl Grey tea. I never thought a tea could make me feel so relaxed, whether it’s hot or iced.

The smell of Earl Grey and bergamot is really calming.

Now, it’s part of my afternoon routine—a warm cup of Earl Grey tea to help me write. I also love other milk teas like Rose Milk Tea, the Blue Latte, Oolong Milk Tea, and Assam Milk Tea. Each one has its own special flavor.

For milk-free versions, I love these Lemongrass Pandan Tea, Butterfly Pea Flower Tea, Ginger Lemon Drink, and Red Ginger Drink.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Easy and quick – It is so easy and quick to prepare Earl Grey Milk Tea at home. Tapioca pearls is additional delight that you can add, if you like.
You can store it for a few days – You can have this drink chilled for a few days in a bottle.
Inexpensive – By making it in big bulk at home, you save some money. The ingredients are all inexpensive.

Recipe Ingredients

Earl grey milk tea ingredients with labels.

Ingredient Notes

Earl Grey Tea – Earl grey tea leaves come in many variations. The one I like the most is with bergamot.

Tapioca Pearls (Boba) – Tapioca pearls, or ‘boba,’ are small, chewy balls made from tapioca starch. The caramel smell from these cute balls will fill the air in your kitchen.

Originating from Taiwan, these boba pearls add a fun texture to the tea, making each sip an experience. The chewy balls will give your tea sipping experience a new sensation.

Palm Sugar – The smell of palm sugar is very unique. It has this caramel and nutty sensation. And to take it to the next level, I add a few pandan leaves while cooking it.

Variations

You may experiment with different levels of sweetness and types of milk. You may try blackstrap molasses powder or coconut sugar. Sometimes, I add a dash of vanilla or cinnamon for a twist.

By soaking the tapioca pearls in sugar water, I’ve found that there’s no need for additional sugar in the tea. This method imparts a gentle sweetness from the pearls themselves.

How to Make

Begin by boiling 1 litre of water with the tea leaves and let them simmer for 3 minutes (Image 1).
After simmering, cover the pot with a lid and allow the tea to steep for an additional 5 minutes (Image 2).
Strain the tea, taking out half of the brewed liquid (image 3, 4).

photo collage of brewing earl grey tea leaves.

Into this, add palm sugar, pour evaporated, fresh milk, and condensed milk, stirring well to combine (image 5, 6, 7, 8).

a photo collage of mixing the dairy milk into the tea.

Boil 1 litre of water in a pot. Once boiling, add the tapioca pearls.
Cook them for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring continuously with a spatula to keep them from sticking together.
After 10 minutes, test a tapioca ball by taking a bite (image 9). If it has reached your desired level of chewiness, turn off the stove.
Using a colander, transfer the cooked tapioca balls into a palm sugar water bath (image 10). Allow them to soak for about 5 minutes to absorb the sugar. They are then ready to be used immediately.

photo collage of making the tapioca pearls.

Take your favorite clear glass and add palm sugar to the bottom, adjusting the sweetness according to your taste.
Next, scoop in some black tapioca pearls and place them at the bottom (image 11).
Gradually pour the Earl Grey milk tea over the pearls (image 12).
Feel free to add some ice cubes. Enjoy!

Pro Tips

Do not forget to keep stirring the tapioca balls during the cooking process. Stirring occasionally will prevent the pearls from sticking to each other.
Tapioca pearls cooking time is 8 – 10 minutes. To be sure, take a bite and check if the chewiness is to your preference.

FAQs

Tapioca pearls are best consumed within a day, while earl grey milk tea can be kept in the chiller for up to 3 days.

Overcooking and not stirring enough, while undercooking makes the tapioca pearls hard to bite.

A glass of earl grey milk tea with ice and tapioca pearls.

Storage

It’s ideal to enjoy cooked tapioca balls on the same day they’re made. Storing them overnight in the fridge can cause them to harden and lose their chewiness.

Store uncooked tapioca pearls in the freezer for up to a month, ensuring they remain fresh for future use.

Stored in a bottle and chilled, Earl Grey milk tea without tapioca pearls can be kept fresh for up to three days.

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Thank you! – Claudia