Oolong Milk Tea

Oolong milk tea is a rich, toasty drink that’s incredibly simple to make at home. With a base of oolong tea, milk, brown sugar, and tapioca pearls, it has the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Plus, it costs a fraction of bubble tea shop options!

With its straightforward ingredients and preparation, this oolong milk tea recipe proves how easy it is to make bubble tea shop-quality drinks from the comfort of your kitchen. If you love unique boba flavors like oolong, don’t miss my taro milk tea!

Why I love this recipe

Unlike other more delicate teas, oolong milk tea showcases the bold, earthy, and slightly smoky flavors of this tea varietal. Combined with dairy-free milk, it’s a silky-smooth, velvety, and refreshing drink that’s perfect for any season.

I love to include tapioca pearls for a soft, chewy, and sweet contrast to the milk tea, but for a simpler recipe, it can also be served without boba.

This beverage is perfect for tea enthusiasts looking for a budget-friendly option to replace expensive store-bought milk teas.

Ingredient notes

Only 4 ingredients are required for this oolong milk tea recipe. Find a full breakdown and suitable substitutes below!

Oolong tea
I prefer loose-leaf oolong tea for its quality and depth of flavor, but you can also use tea bags for more convenience. Be careful not to let oolong tea steep past 5 minutes to avoid a bitter taste. For different flavors and characteristics, try light, medium, and dark oolong varieties.

Sweetener
I use brown sugar to sweeten both the boba and oolong while adding complex molasses notes. Adjust the sugar up or down depending on your preferences.

Substitute: Brown sugar can be replaced with other sweeteners like coconut sugar, maple syrup, piloncillo, or agave. You can even try lavender syrup.

Milk
My preferred choices for oolong bubble tea are soy, oat, or coconut milk. For a lighter consistency, try almond or rice milk.

Tapioca pearls
Tapioca pearls, also known as boba, can be purchased at any Asian food market, online, or in the international aisle of large grocery stores. I recommend purchasing uncooked tapioca pearls to prepare yourself.

Substitute: You can also use quick-cooking boba to save yourself some time, but the texture of real tapioca pearls is much chewier and more flavorful.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

How to make

Learn the best way to make oolong milk tea at home with my straightforward, easy-to-follow instructions. Look for the tips in green throughout this section for consistent and successful results!

Cooking

Step 1
Boil water in a medium-large saucepan. Once boiling, add the pearls and lower the heat to just under medium. Simmer the pearls for 15-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking.

The exact cooking time will vary, so check your specific package for instructions, but my pearls always take 30 minutes.

Step 2
Add the brown sugar and water to a small saucepan and whisk them together. Bring the mixture to a simmer for a few minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Reserve a few tablespoons, then transfer the rest of the syrup to a medium mixing bowl.

The reserved syrup will sweeten the milk tea. If you forget to reserve some, you can always use maple syrup or agave.

Step 3
Strain the tapioca pearls through a fine-mesh strainer, rinsing them lightly. Transfer the pearls to the mixing bowl with the syrup and stir to combine. Set the bowl aside to soak while you prepare the tea.

Step 4
While the tapioca pearls are soaking, steep the oolong tea in water at 185-205 degrees Fahrenheit, then let it cool to room temperature.

Brew the tea for 2-3 minutes for a lighter flavor and up to 5 minutes for a stronger flavor. Don’t let it steep past 5 minutes to prevent a bitter taste.

Step 5
To assemble the oolong milk tea, add 3-4 tablespoons of tapioca pearls to the bottom of a cup, followed by a handful of ice. Pour in 2-4 teaspoons of syrup and the oolong tea up to about halfway or slightly more. Top the cup off with your milk of choice. Happy drinking!

If you want a hot milk tea, skip cooling the oolong tea and omit the ice.

Cooking tips

Soak pearls in syrup: Don’t skip soaking the tapioca pearls in brown sugar syrup. This step infuses them with a sweet flavor and makes them much more enjoyable.

Straw size: Use a wide-mouthed straw designed for bubble tea. It makes the drinking experience smoother as you can easily sip up the tapioca pearls.

Freshness: For the best taste and texture, drink your oolong milk tea as soon as you make it. The pearls start to break down and turn hard, so they need to be fresh.

Frequently asked questions

Storing & reheating

Oolong milk tea is best enjoyed fresh, but it is possible to store it. If the drink is fully assembled, strain the boba before storing it.

Fridge
The milk tea itself can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days in a sealed glass container, such as a mason jar.

Freezer
I recommend freezing the leftover oolong milk tea without the boba in ice cube trays. You can use the ice to chill your next batch.

Prep ahead
To save time, you can always brew your oolong tea a few days in advance. The syrup is also fridge-stable for up to 3 weeks, making assembly on the day even quicker.

Recipe

Note: I’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.