This Jasmine Milk Tea recipe is everything perfect in the world in a cup. It's creamy yet dairy-free, calm and refreshing. It also has caffeine, but not too much. All you need is 10 minutes to make it and 10 minutes of peaceful bliss to enjoy it!
Jasmine tea is one of those teas I thought tasted like dirt when I was a kid. This is very contradictory to what I said in the previous paragraph, I know. I have come to see the light!
Jasmine tea is a green tea that is light, refreshing, energizing, and packed with immune-boosting antioxidants. It is the perfect base for milk teas in particular because it has a very distinct flavor that is strong enough to hold its own against the milk. Our milk tea uses oat milk which I consider to be a milder flavor that happily takes a back seat to the star of the show, jasmine.
Looking for another delicious drink? Try one of these other popular milk tea beverages: Coffee Milk Tea, Honeydew Milk Tea, or our Wintermelon Milk Tea.
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What is Jasmine Milk Tea?
Jasmine green milk tea is a drink made with jasmine green tea, milk, and a sweetener. Sometimes it includes boba tapioca pearls. The jasmine tea has an earthy and floral taste and thus gives those same qualities to this milk tea, with a creamy twist.
Jasmine tea is made up of jasmine flowers layered between green tea leaves. Jasmine tea originated in the Chinese Ming Dynasty around 700 years ago. It is often enjoyed with other flavors such as lychee and citrus that enhance the floral qualities of jasmine.
Today, milk tea is commonly enjoyed with the tapioca pearls I mentioned above, known as boba. These look like little bubbles. This has led to milk tea also being called bubble tea, or boba tea.
Ingredients and Substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted
Oat Milk: Oat milk has a mild flavor which helps to not overpower the flavor of jasmine tea. We use unsweetened oat milk, regular (not low fat or barista).
Substitutions: You can use any unsweetened milk with a mild flavor. Almond milk, rice milk, whole milk, or hemp milk would all work. Coconut milk can be used but due to its strong coconut flavor, it tends to overpower the tea.
Jasmine Green Tea: Green tea is great for getting that afternoon caffeine fix because while it has some caffeine, it is a lower dosage that releases in the body much more evenly than coffee or other caffeine drinks. This is why green tea is less likely to cause a crash.
Substitutions: We used Jasmine green tea bags but you could use any type of tea you like, including jasmine powder, dried flowers, or syrup. You can also use jasmine black tea or white tea.
Honey: Honey provides a little extra sweetness and goes super well with the floral notes of jasmine.
Substitutions: You can use the sweetener of your choice if you don't have honey. Agave, brown sugar, and simple syrup work, but I love to use citrus-infused honey to complement the green tea base!
Boba: These are just plain fun! Boba pearls are tapioca balls that are sold dried. To make them, you just boil them and wait for them to float. Just like cooking gnocchi! This boba is what we used.
Substitutions: We used clear or white tapioca pearls, but you can use black tapioca pearls, flavored gels, or any other fun add-in you like. These can also be left out.
How to Make this - Step by Step
This milk tea recipe is seriously so easy to make. It only takes 10 minutes and 6 ingredients to have your very own jasmine bubble tea at home! Read on to learn how to make your own!
Step one: Bring water and most of the honey to a boil. Reserve a splash of honey for the boba. Once it comes to a boil, add the green tea bags to the hot water and remove them from heat, whisk together to incorporate the honey. Let these steep for 5 minutes.
Step two: While the tea steeps, make the boba by bringing a couple cups of water to a boil in another small saucepan. Add the boba and cook until it floats to the surface. Strain out the cooked tapioca pearls and put them into the bottom of the serving glass. Add a few drops of honey to the boba and stir. This helps to keep them from sticking to each other.
Step three: Remove the tea bags from the tea. Pour liquid into the mug or cup over the honey boba.
Step four: Add ice cubes and milk and stir. Enjoy with a wide straw (for the boba, of course!)! This can also be enjoyed hot - to do that, heat the milk, skip the ice, and heat the milk and add it to a mug with the tea and boba.
Watch How to Make This - Step by Step
Joy Tip!
If your tea is bitter after brewing, try brewing another bag at a higher temperature or steeping for a shorter time. For the perfectly brewed tea, bring the water to a boil (about 190 deg F) and then let the tea cool slightly.
Facts and Common Questions
What does this tea taste like?
Jasmine boba tea is subtly floral and creamy. It is slightly sweet with the addition of honey making this an addicting and refreshing drink!
Is this recipe healthy?
Yes! Jasmine tea is a green tea and has all of the health benefits of green tea with the added benefits of jasmine. It is loaded with antioxidants, contains catechins which have been shown to fight cavities and Alzheimer's, and has 15 to 60 mg of caffeine per cup to keep you alert but not jittery.
Is jasmine tea good for milk tea?
Yes, jasmine tea is a very strong and bright flavor that holds up well to milk.
Can I use jasmine milk tea powder?
Yes, but it is often of lesser quality and flavor than using jasmine tea bags or dried flowers. This is because milk tea powder has many additives to keep it shelf-stable. But, in a pinch, the powder will work great and is far more convenient. Just try to find one that has a lower percentage of creamers and sweeteners.
Want to Save it for Later? Here’s how!
Fridge: This can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to two days. I recommend removing the ice and boba before saving. The milk may float to the top when cooled. To enjoy later, mix well to combine, add ice (or heat up) and boba and enjoy!
Fun Fact
Jasmine tea is one of the most famous teas in Asia. Jasmine flowers are worn by women in their hair in southern and southeast Asian. It is known in India as the “Queen of the Night '' because its perfume is released at night under the light of the moon. It has been linked to better sleep and is said to have a general calming effect. Along with a calming effect, Chinese medicine says jasmine flowers are thought to “cool” the blood and have strong antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-tumor properties. (source)
More Joyful Recipes!
Try these other earthy flavored recipes!
Recipe
Jasmine Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 1 jasmine tea bag
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoon honey
- ½ cup oat milk
- 2 tablespoon boba pearls
- ½ cup ice
Instructions
- Add 2 teaspoon of honey, and ½ cup water to the pot and bring to boil. Stir the water once warm to dissolve the honey.
- Add the tea bag to the water and take off heat. Let steep for 5 minutes.
- While this is going, prepare the boba by boiling them in ½ a cup of water for 3-5 minutes Once they float to the top, strain them and run under cold water.
- Transfer them to a cup for serving and top with 1 teaspoon of honey to keep them from sticking to each other.
- Remove the tea bag, and give it a stir to ensure the honey is incorporated. Pour over the boba into the serving cup.
- Add ice and top with milk. Enjoy!
Linda says
I really enjoyed this drink,thanks for sharing!