How To Make Assam Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls (Boba)
This post may contain affiliate links.Assam Milk Tea is the perfect mix of strong black tea and smooth milk, giving you that rich flavor and comforting warmth you crave. It’s super easy and quick to make and even better to sip!
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Ever heard of Assam black tea? In some countries in Asia, people drink it with milk as Assam Milk Tea, especially for breakfast.
The strong flavor of Assam black tea will totally wake you up and get you ready for the day! It’s packed with antioxidants and nutrients to boost your energy.
Buying Assam Milk Tea at a café can be pricey, but the good news is, you can make it at home. It’s super easy, and you can adjust how sweet or creamy you want it!
If you’re into milk tea, you’ve got to try Oolong milk tea, Earl Grey milk tea, or even the caffeine-free Rose Milk Tea and Butterfly Pea Flower Latte.
If you want something without milk, go for Butterfly Pea Flower Tea, Ginger Lemon Drink, or Lemongrass Pandan Tea. They’re perfect for staying cool on a hot summer day!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
Assam Tea Leaves – For the leaves, opt for a grade within your taste preferences. There are varieties such as TGFOP for a more refined flavor or CTC for a bolder, stronger brew.
Heavy cream – Choose heavy cream with high fat content for a creamy texture. If you prefer a less creamy version, you can opt for skim milk, but the flavor will be different. I prefer the creamy texture, after all it blends well with the nature of the tea.
Palm sugar – Palm sugar gives the nuttiness flavor to the black tea. It is also fragrant, so it becomes a great addition to the drink.
Tapioca pearls – There are many types of tapioca pearls or boba, from white to brown or black. I prefer the white ones (sago pearls), the ones I use in this recipe. Cook tapioca pearls until they become transparent and soak in the sugar water.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
Variations & Substitutions
Use honey or condensed milk to substitute the sugar for a different flavor. Stevia or monk fruit can also be a great alternative. Adjust the sweetness to your preference.
Spices like cardamom, cinnamon, or ginger can give a unique twist to the tea. Remember to put it in the brewing process. Experiment to suit your preference.
You can experiment with non-dairy milk such as oat or almond milk. Another great option is evaporated milk if you prefer it to be less creamy than heavy cream.
How to Make
- Boil some water in a pot, and when it starts boiling, add tapioca or sago pearls. Let them cook until they’re almost clear. Drain them and soak them in sugar water (Images 1 and 2).
- Next, make the Assam black tea. Boil water and pour it over the tea in a container (Image 3). Let it steep for 2-3 minutes.
- Once the tea is ready, drain out the tea leaves (Image 4) and add palm sugar or your favorite sweetener (Image 5). Pour some of the tea into a serving glass (Image 6).
- You can add the cooked tapioca pearls either before or after pouring the tea into the glass.
- Then, add in some whipping cream and stir it well (Image 7).
- Finally, sieve a bit of cinnamon powder on top (Image 8) and garnish with a cinnamon stick or mint leaves.
Pro Tips
- The first infusion of Assam black tea is the best brew. If you want to brew it again, the flavor may be different, less stronger than the first brew.
- Make sure the water is about 205-210°F for the best steeping.
- Heavy cream gives the creamiest taste, but if you don’t have that, you can use evaporated milk instead.
Storage
Assam milk tea is best when you drink it the same day you make it. If you don’t add tapioca pearls, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just make sure to cook only the amount of tapioca pearls you’re going to use, because they get super soggy by the next day.
Assam Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 3 tsp Assam black tea leaves
- 500 ml water hot
- 50 ml whipping cream
- 1-2 tsp palm sugar
- Ceylon cinnamon ground optional
- 1 tbsp sago tapioca pearl cooked until transparent and soaked with sugary water
Instructions
- First, if you want some tapioca pearl inside your assam milk tea, you can boil some water and cook the tapioca pearl. If you don't skip this step, go to no.3.
- Strain the tapioca pearl and put them into a sugary water.
- Boil the water.
- Add 2-3 tsp Assam black tea into a teapot with strainer. If you want a stronger taste, you can add 1 more teaspoon.
- Pour the hot water into the teapot.
- Let it steep for 2-3 minutes.
- Strain the tea leaves.
- Add 1-2 tsp blackstrap molasses powder or organic palm sugar. If you don't like it sweet, skip this step.
- Stir well.
- Prepare a serving glass, add tapioca pearl at the bottom.
- Pour the tea.
- Add 50 ml whipping cream or evaporated milk or milk.
- Stir well. Add a dash of Ceylon cinnamon ground on top. Enjoy!
Notes
- The first infusion of Assam black tea is the best brew. If you want to brew it again, the flavor may be different, less stronger than the first brew.
- Water temperature for brewing should be around 205-210°F for good steeping.
- Whole milk gives the best creamy taste. Other than that, you can use evaporated milk.
Nutrition
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It’s not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Every person is different and may react to different herbs and teas differently. Never use teas or herbs to treat serious medical conditions on your own. Always seek professional medical advice before choosing home remedies.
I love a strong black tea sometimes when I need to wake myself up to start the day. Assam milk tea is my favorite option. Add the chewy boba for fun!