Japanese royal milk tea (ロイヤル・ミルクティー) is creamy, rich, and full-bodied in flavour, with a beautiful, lightly floral aroma. On a hot day, chilled royal milk tea is so delightfully refreshing. Drinking it steamy and hot is wonderful, as well. I will show you how to make both versions.
A pleasant surprise for visitors to Japan is discovering the amazing selection of drinks you can find in its many cafes and shops. Even the vending machines have a huge variety of high quality, tasty beverages. One of my favourites was always royal milk tea. My after school snack would often consist of melon bread and a cold glass of this tea.
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What is royal milk tea?
Lipton brand created Royal milk tea in 1965, Japan, as part of their promotional series, "royal recipes." It was widely accepted in Japan; and now its popularity has spread around the globe.
It is made of a blend of black tea, milk, and sweetener. The strong tea and fresh milk combine to create a deliciously rich, creamy, and malty flavour, made a touch sweet with the addition of the sweetener. It is absolutely decadent.
This delicate, black tea beverage differs from regular tea because it is made by boiling tea leaves together with milk on a stovetop (similar to a chai tea but with less spices). Also, it has a higher percentage of milk than water, resulting in a well-balanced, creamier tea.
Best kind of tea leaves to use in royal milk tea
There are a few different kinds of black tea that can be used:
- Darjeeling (India) - light coloured with a floral aroma.
- Assam (India) - dark, bold, and malty.
- Ceylon Uva (Sri Lanka) - amber and full bodied.
My flavour standard is the delicious Kirin afternoon milk tea, an incredibly popular beverage in Japan. So I use a blend of 75% Darjeeling for the light colour and delicate floral scent, and 25% Assam for a bit of depth and robustness.
Ingredients
- Black tea leaves - I use a blend of darjeeling and assam. I recommend buying loose tea leaves as you are most likely going to get a better quality than you would from a tea bag. Therefore, your result will be more like the high quality royal milk tea served in cafes in Japan.
- Milk - 2% or whole milk is best.
- Water
- Gum syrup or honey - In Japan, a liquid sugar called 'gum syrup' is usually used to sweeten royal milk tea. I used honey instead.
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Substitutions
Milk - To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the milk with unsweetened oat milk.
Gum syrup - You can substitute with the sweetener of your choice. However, try to use a neutral flavoured one so that you don't affect the flavour of the tea.
Instructions
First you have to open the tea leaves to extract the most flavour. Put the tea leaves into a small bowl and add just enough boiling water to evenly coat the them.
In the meantime, heat the milk and water in a small saucepan.
Just before the milk/water begins to boil, add in the moistened tea leaves and turn off the heat. Stir them with a spoon to mix them in.
Then cover the pot and let it sit for 4 minutes for hot tea, or 5 minutes for iced.
If you will drink the tea hot, prepare your teacups by filling them with hot water to warm them.
After the steeping is finished, give it another stir, then strain the milk tea into a bowl or measuring cup with a pour spout.
Sweeten it to your taste with the sweetener of your choice. In Japan they often use liquid sugar called gum syrup. You can use sugar if you'd like, but I used honey.
For hot - remove the hot water from the teacups and pour in your tea. It is ready to enjoy hot.
For iced - cool the bowl in the refrigerator before serving the tea in an ice-filled glass.
Storage
You could store Japanese royal milk tea in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two to three days, but it is best when enjoyed the same day as making it.
FAQ
Yes, royal milk tea is made from black tea leaves that do contain caffeine.
📖 Recipe
Japanese Royal Milk Tea
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Tea
- Cuisine: Japanese
Description
Japanese royal milk tea is creamy, rich, and full-bodied in flavour, with a beautiful, lightly floral aroma. You can enjoy this famous Japanese tea both hot and iced.
Ingredients
Measurements for 2 servings (see note for 1 serving - not half)
1 ½ teaspoons (heaping) Darjeeling tea leaves
½ teaspoon (heaping) Assam tea leaves
300 ml milk
100 ml water
gum syrup (or honey), to taste
Instructions
Measure the tea leaves into a very small bowl. Add in just enough boiling water to thoroughly cover the leaves. Let this sit to open up the leaves.
(Hot version: preheat tea cups by filling with hot water.)
Heat milk and water in a small pot over medium heat. Just before it begins to boil, add in the moistened tea leaves and turn off the heat. Stir with a spoon to mix.
Cover the pot and allow it to steep for 4 minutes if you will drink it hot, or 5 minutes if you will drink it iced.
Give it another stir, then strain the milk tea into a bowl or measuring cup that has an easy pour spout. Sweeten the tea to your taste preference.
Hot version: Empty hot water from tea cups and fill with prepared royal milk tea.
Cold version: Chill in fridge until cool enough to serve over ice.
Notes
Measurements for one serving: 1 ½ tsp (heaping) black tea leaves (75% Darjeeling, 25% Assam) - 150 ml milk - 75 ml water
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 16.5 g
- Sodium: 133.5 mg
- Fat: 3.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.1 g
- Protein: 5.2 g
- Cholesterol: 12.5 mg
Kayla says
I'm obsessed with Japanese milk tea! But it's expensive at import stores. Thanks for showing how to make it at home 😀
Asha says
I know! I needed a solution too 🙂
Trish says
This is great
Asha says
Thanks!
Erin says
Great, easy-to-follow recipe
Asha says
Thank you
Erica Lee says
Beautiful
Asha says
Thanks Erica, appreciate it.
Sarah says
Delicious tea recipe!
Asha says
Thank you 🙂
Carmen says
Can't wait to make this! 😀
Asha says
Love it 🙂
Sophia says
Delicious and soooo good on as ice tea.
Asha says
Thank you!
Tara says
Really enjoying this tea. Comforting.
Asha says
Thank you 🙂
Oriana says
A friend and I made this. First time we tried Japanese milk tea. Loved it.
Asha says
Thanks so much!
Deka says
My daughter made this for me today. Ice tea which I never tried before. So smooth and tasty.
Asha says
So glad you liked it. Thank you
Shawna says
Thank you for sharing this. Such a delightful drink for a hot day. Will try it hot in the winter.
Asha says
Thanks for the review!
Marsha says
Not much one for writing reviews however I have been enjoying this tea most of the summer. It's such a great tea to sit and relax with that I just wanted to thank you for the recipe.
Asha says
Awe, thank you for going out of your way and writing one in this case. That made me very happy to read.
Esther says
I enjoy this tea very much. So relaxing after work or in the quiet of the weekend mornings.
Asha says
Thank you. So glad you enjoy it.
Mai says
I enjoyed the first cup of Japanese milk tea this morning. So relaxing.
Asha says
Thank you, so happy you enjoyed it.
Lana says
So good. Enjoying a cup as I type this. Very relaxing during these crazy times.
Asha says
Thank you Lana. Appreciating the little things makes times like these easier to handle.
Nathan says
So enjoyed this tea. Thanks for sharing.
Asha says
Thank you for the kind review 🙂
Megan says
Savoring this milk tea. Dreamy.
Asha says
Thank you!
Evelyn says
My first time having this tea. A perfect relaxing drink as we jump or crawl into a new year. lol
I may need to have this tea every night.
Asha says
Thank you, so glad you're enjoying it 🙂
Chelsea says
I find this tea so relaxing. Enjoying it with biscuits and jam. My happy place.
Asha says
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy it 🙂
Nicole says
My new fav. Cannot wait for friends to come for tea.
Asha says
Thank you! 🙂
Candice says
Oh my goodness. This tea does taste like it is for royality. First time I ever tried it.
Asha says
Thank you. It's a beautiful tea for sure. Glad you enjoyed it!
Whitney says
Enjoying my first cup of royal milk tea in my new home office. So glad I found your recipe. Thanks.
Asha says
Thanks! Congrats on the new home office. I hope this tea made it feel extra cozy 🙂
Cindy says
Great tasting tea. Makes a cold day more enjoyable.
Asha says
Thank you Cindy. Hope today is a bit warmer for you!
Lena says
Relaxing with a cup of this Japanese royal milk tea before bed. Wanted to let you know how wonderful it tastes.
Asha says
Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Theresa says
Great flavor to this tea. Thanks.
Asha says
Thanks for the kind review 🙂
Paula says
Thank you for this. Loving how this tea tastes.
Asha says
Thanks for the review ❤️
Wanda says
I used the same blend you used in your recipe and found it very enjoyable as a hot drink.
Definitely going on my 'favorites' list.
Asha says
That's great, thanks for sharing 🙂
Becky says
I am enjoying a cup of this tea right now. A great way to relax at the end of a long day.
Asha says
Thank you. That sounds lovely 🙂
Nicole says
I searched for this tea on some Japanese menus at restaurants in my city. Most had a milk tea but not this combination to make royal milk tea.. Thanks for post. I truly love drinking this.
Asha says
Thank you, I'm so glad you're enjoying it 🙂
Tammi says
I truly enjoy this tea. It seems the perfect pick me up.
Asha says
Thank you 🙂 I agree!
Belinda says
Loving this tea.
Asha says
Thank you!
Bill says
Wanda please come back I miss the kids I haven't seen them in ages, I'll even make you this Japanese milk tea you like so much.
Bill says
Wanda please come back I miss the kids I haven't seen them in ages, I'll even make you this Japanese milk tea you like so much.
Dirk says
Very good recipe. No more regular milk tea for me. I had no Darjeeling but it tastes fine with just Assam as well. This is the first out of similar recipes that I actually managed not to burn the milk. First I was afraid that the temperature was not hot enough but it turned out just perfect. The only problem for me was that the serving size for one is too small for me. So next time I will use the amount for two servings.
Asha says
Thank you, Dirk! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂
Bernice says
Thank you for this very useful milk tea post. Milk tea is so delicious and it really highlights the beautiful flavour of the tea you have blended. I tried it hot, now I'm making another batch to enjoy cold in the afternoon.
Asha says
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.
Colleen says
I had Royal Milk tea on a trip to Japan and have never forgotten it. Now I can make it! Thank you for sharing.
Asha says
Thank you! It has a very special taste indeed.
nancy says
one of my favourite drinks to order and buy. thank you ! now i can enjoy this at home!
Asha says
Thank you for the review 🙂
Vanessa says
I love tea! This was such a lovely way to prepare it. I definitely will be making the iced version on repeat as the weather heats up.
Asha says
Thank you, I will be doing the same thing 😀
Terri says
I cannot wait to try this when we go to Japan! But in the meantime, thanks for this recipe, I'll be making it at home!
Asha says
Thank you Terri, I hope you have an amazing time there!