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Royal Milk Tea is a rich, creamy drink from Japan made with black tea leaves, milk, and sugar. It’s less bitter than plain black tea and has a smooth, silky texture—perfect for a cozy drink. It’s simple to make—similar to Indian chai—and is delightful served hot or cold.
This was one of my favorite childhood treats and I love it to this day! I would stop by 7-Eleven with friends after school to grab one every day, which is so common in Asia. Highly recommend pairing the tea with my Chinese almond cookies. They are a match made in heaven!
Table of Contents
What is Royal Milk Tea?
Japanese royal milk tea—or 午後紅茶, which means “afternoon black tea” in Japanese—was created by the tea company Lipton in 1965 as part of its “Royal Recipes” series. Now it’s a popular drink throughout Asia, where you can find it in any convenience store or vending machine.
This thick and creamy black milk tea consists of black tea leaves—usually Darjeeling or Assam—simmered in water with fresh milk and a sweetener. It’s silky, creamy, and sweet in flavour with a floral aroma. Making milk tea at home is a breeze—or try a store-bought version (product).
Best black tea leaves to use (with substitutions)
Japanese milk tea is made by simmering loose black tea leaves in a small pot of water and real milk. The most popular types of tea used are Darjeeling and Assam.
For a lighter drink, use Darjeeling tea:
Darjeeling is a lighter black tea with floral or grape notes, depending on the harvest time.
- Substitutions: Ceylon tea offers light, citrusy, and floral notes similar to Darjeeling. Oolong tea works too if you want a gentler flavor.
For a bolder flavor, use Assam tea leaves:
Assam has a strong, malty flavor. It’s often used in English Breakfast blends.
- Substitutions: English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast have a similar bold, malty taste. Kenyan black tea is another great option since it’s just as full-bodied.
Tip
Caffeine-free version
If you’re looking for caffeine-free alternatives with a similar depth and flavor to Darjeeling and Assam tea, here are some great options:
- Rooibos Tea: Rich and full-bodied with natural sweetness, rooibos mimics Assam’s depth and pairs well with milk or spices.
- Honeybush Tea: Slightly sweeter with a honey-like flavor, honeybush brings a smooth, full taste similar to Darjeeling’s floral notes..
Ingredients
This creamy Asian milk tea is made on the stovetop with just a few ingredients. Here’s what I recommend using for authentic flavor.
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- 1 cup (250ml) water
- 5g black tea leaves (3 tsp): Preferably Darjeeling or Assam, loose tea leaves.
- 1 cup (250ml) whole milk: Use unsweetened plain soy milk for dairy-free.
- 1 tsp dark muscovado sugar: Dark brown sugar would also work.
Learn
Muscovado sugar: An unrefined cane sugar with a rich, caramel-like taste and a sticky texture from molasses. It’s dark brown (or sometimes lighter) and adds depth to baked goods, marinades, and sauces.
How to make Royal Milk Tea
This Japanese tea is commonly bought at markets or cafes in Asia, but it’s so easy to make at home. Here are the simple steps to making this Darjeeling or Assam milk tea recipe.
- Boil the water in a small saucepan over medium heat, then turn to low heat.
- Add the black tea leaves and simmer over low heat for 60 seconds. TIP: Don’t overcook, or the tea will become bitter.
- Pour in the milk and cook over low heat until warm, 3-4 minutes. TIP: The milk will boil over quickly, so leave it uncovered.
- Sweeten and strain: Turn off the stove, add dark muscovado sugar, and stir well. Pour the milk tea through a mesh strainer into 2 serving cups. Serve hot milk tea in the winter.
- For cold tea: In the summer months, you can pour it over ice cubes for iced tea.
What to serve it with
I love enjoying this Assam or Darjeeling milk tea with cookies or sweets as a comforting afternoon snack. In the winter, I opt for warm milk tea, but it’s delicious cold, too.
- Cookies: Tis the season for these no bake Christmas cookies made with Cacao, mixed nuts, and cranberry. Blackberry thumbprint cookies are a sweet and tart treat that pairs well also.
- More sweet treats: Try a Chocolate olive oil bundt cake for a sweet, moist afternoon snack with just the right sweetness. My Paleo chocolate crepes with almond butter filling or these Paleo and gluten-free tigernut flour pancakes will elevate your afternoon spread!
FAQ
The main difference is the tea-to-milk ratio and brewing method. Regular milk tea is brewed with water and finished with a splash of milk, giving it a light, tea-forward taste. The royal version simmers tea with milk, making it richer and creamier.
More cozy drink recipes you might like
Winter is on its way, and I’m so ready to curl up with my favorite cozy beverages. Here are some of my favorite caffeine-free and dairy-free drinks—I hope you love them, too!
- Black sesame latte: This creamy, nutty Asian beverage is dairy-free and caffeine-free, perfect hot or iced! Made with my homemade black sesame paste.
- Paleo hot chocolate: This simple Italian-style recipe with just 1 minute of prep is rich, chocolatey, and dairy-free.
- Korean strawberry milk: Made with fresh chunks of strawberries and our homemade strawberry compote, this joyful and creamy drink is naturally sweetened and dairy-free.
- Whole30 turmeric milk: This frothy and creamy beverage with turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger is anti-inflammatory, fights colds, and has no added sugar. Serve hot or iced!
Royal milk tea recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water (250 ml)
- 5 g black tea leaves prefer darjeeling or assam black tea leaves (3 tsp)
- 1 cup whole milk or unsweetened plain soy milk (250ml)
- 1 tsp dark muscovado sugar or dark brown sugar
Instructions
- Pour the water in a small pot, boil over medium heat, then turn to low heat.
- Add the black tea leaves and cook over low heat for 60 seconds.
- Pour-in the milk and cook over low heat, uncovered, until warm, 3-4 minutes.
- Turn off the stove, add dark muscovado sugar and stir well, then pour the milk tea through a mesh strainer into 2 serving cups.
- Serve hot or warm in the winter. To serve it cold (for summer), pour it over a glass of ice.
Notes
- Darjeeling tea tastes lighter, while Assam tastes bolder. Substitutions:
- For Darjeeling: Use Ceylon tea for its light, citrusy, and floral notes. Oolong tea works too if you want a gentler flavor.
- For Assam: Try English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast tea for a similar bold, malty taste. Kenyan black tea is another great option since it’s just as full-bodied.
- Milk substitute: For dairy-free, I recommend using plain soy milk. I don’t recommend using coconut milk, rice milk, or almond milk as it will alter the flavor of the tea.
- Sugar Adjustments: If using unsweetened soy milk: Add 2 tsp of sugar. Whole milk is naturally sweeter than soy milk, so you might not need as much sugar.
- Muscovado Sugar substitute: Substitute with dark brown sugar or coconut sugar.
- Storage: Once the tea is no longer hot, store in a glass jar with a tight lid in the fridge. Best finish in 2-3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My husband had gifted me an assortment of tea leaves harvested from around the world. I have been using them to make this delightful royal milk tea. Thank you for this recipe! It’s so much richer than just a cup of tea, splash of milk and lump of sugar!
So happy to hear. Thank you so much and happy holidays!