Tea Blog Menu

Want to make a tea latte but feel it’s just too much of a hassle? Or maybe you just want to experiment with unique brewing methods? If you wanted to know, can you steep tea in milk, the question is – of course. Steeping tea in milk is easy and will give a completely different flavor than steeping in water.

Which teas are the best for steeping in milk?

Not all loose leaf tea will be good for steeping in milk. The best teas are strong black teas, preferably with smaller broken leaves. Broken leaves will give a stronger flavor and are used for making traditional milk teas. You can use both unflavored and flavored teas, with nutty, chocolaty, fruity or even tropical notes.

Other great choices are dark oolongs, herbal rooibos and even ripe pu’erh teas. Avoid white teas, as they are usually too gentle, gentle green teas or green oolongs. However, you can try using some green teas, such as gunpowder.

How to know if your tea is strong enough for steeping in milk? If it tastes good with milk when you hot brew it and if it has a deep dark color, it will probably be great for steeping in milk too.

Best teas for steeping in milk are:

·         Chai black tea with spices

·         Pure strong teas, such as Assam or Kenyan teas

·         Nutty and buttery black tea blends

·         Darker oolongs

·         Rooibos herbal tea blends

2 ways of steeping tea in milk – with no water

Method 1 – Steeping tea in hot milk  

To make a perfect cup of milk tea, you don’t need to brew it in water at all. You can steep it in milk directly. You will need a stove and a small saucepan. To get the best flavor, we recommend measuring a bit more leaves you’d normally use. Important thing to keep in mind is to simmer it on low fire so it doesn’t boil.

You will need:

·         1 ½ - 2 teaspoons of tea leaves

·         1 cup of milk

·         a small saucepan

·         a teaspoon of honey or another sweetener – optional

·         an electric frother - optional

Steps:

1.      Add milk and tea leaves into a small saucepan.

2.      Simmer on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Don’t let it boil.

3.      Strain into a mug and use an electric frother to make it frothy and creamy. (optional=

4.      Add sweetener if needed. (optional)

This method saves a lot of time if you want to enjoy an express tea latte. Milk will reduce the bitterness of tea, so a sweetener is optional. Don’t froth the milk if you want to cool it down and store in the fridge.

Method 2: Cold-brewing tea in milk

We talked about cold-brewing tea in water, but you can cold-brew tea in milk too! Keep in mind though, steeping tea in cold milk will give a gentler flavor than steeping tea in cold water and you will need to steep it longer than just overnight. You can use any milk you want, but we recommend milk with a neutral flavor such as cow’s milk or cashew plant-based milk. (Check out the guide to best milk for tea.)

You will need:

·                 1 tablespoon of tea leaves

·                 2 cups of milk

·                 a mason jar or a glass teapot

Steps to cold-brew tea in milk:

1.      Wash and dry your teapot or a mason jar.

2.      Add tea leaves and milk.

3.      Let it steep for 10-12 hours in the fridge (or longer if needed).

4.      Strain and store in the fridge.   

This method is great if you enjoy drinking milk on its own and want a delicate flavor. Cold-brewed tea in milk is great for making a simple milkshake with vanilla ice cream, or simply enjoying it served over ice.

For this method use it’s best to use only stronger black teas with broken leaves.

What can you do with tea infused milk?

You can use tea infused milk as a substitute for regular milk in desserts, milk frappes or smoothies, enjoy it with a morning cereal or use it for making boba tea.  

Should you brew tea in milk?

There are pros and cons to not only brewing tea in milk but also adding a splash of milk to a regular cup of tea.

If you want to try an unorthodox method of brewing tea, then try it out. It’s great for adding flavor to milk or for making milky lattes in a matter of minutes.