Earl Grey Milk Tea with Boba - Entirely Elizabeth

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This Earl Grey Milk Tea is fun, refreshing, and so flavorful! It is made with 4 simple ingredients- bold earl grey tea, creamy half and half, sweet simple syrup, and chewy boba. And you’ll love how quick and easy this is to make at home.

Looking for more ways to use your Earl Grey Tea? Try my Blueberry Earl Grey Muffins with Streusel.

Earl Grey Milk Tea on a wood tray. Layers of boba, simple syrup, earl grey tea, and half and half. Topped off with a boba straw.

When I lived in Arkansas we had an authentic milk tea shop that had the best boba tea (bubble tea) in town. I went to it at least once a week and it was always an attraction I took guests to.

My taste buds loved every minute of sipping but my wallet did not. Milk teas that contain boba can be very expensive (I paid $7- $9 every time I got it) so I knew I needed to learn how to make my own.

Now that I have learned, I am obsessed and the recipes just keep coming. I have a Strawberry Milk Tea, Matcha Milk Tea, Caramel Milk Tea, and Chocolate Milk Tea (using hot cocoa). I also love this Taro Milk Tea recipe from my friends over at Broke Bank Vegan.

Why This Is The Perfect Earl Grey Milk Tea Recipe:

Strong Earl Grey flavor- there is nothing worse than tasting too much watery milk and not enough tea. This one is fragrant, rich, and everything it should be.
Only 4 simple ingredients- Earl Grey tea, half and half, simple syrup, and boba. It is 5 ingredients if you include the water.
You save money by making your own- no explanation needed, saving money is king.

Video Tutorial:

What is Milk Tea?

Milk tea is exactly what it sounds like, tea with milk and a little sweetener. Milk tea can be served hot or cold and in a variety of ways. Substitute the type of tea, simple syrup, and milk you use to make a unique creation.

Milk tea can also have boba (tapioca pearls) in them, making it Boba Tea or Bubble Tea. This type of milk tea has become increasingly popular and for good reasons. Boba are small, round balls made of cassava starch.

They have no flavor on their own but when boiled and introduced to a simple syrup or tea they take on those flavors. When you are drinking the milk tea and slurp up a boba, you get a chewy burst of flavor that is the best thing ever!

Earl Grey Milk Tea with boba. More bobas on the side, half and half in a jar, tea in a little pot, and a beige flower.

Ingredients for Earl Grey Milk Tea

Earl Grey Tea (brewed in water): Feel free to use tea bags or leaves for this recipe, either work great. I recommend Twinings brand (not sponsored, I just like the bold flavor of it).
Half and Half: I love the creaminess it adds to the milk tea. You can easily use whole milk, oat milk, or any neutral flavored milk.
Simple Syrup: This adds just a little bit of sweetness to the tea. I have a few recipes that go great with this or you can use store-bought.
- Simple Syrup Recipe is the most commonly used.
- Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Cardamom Simple Syrup for another unique level of flavor.
- Caramel Simple Syrup.
- Cinnamon Simple Syrup
Boba (also known as tapioca pearls): They need to be boiled prior to using, so you will need water and simple syrup to cook them. Just make sure you get the quick cook variety. The bobas are completely optional, but I cannot live without them in my milk tea.

Ingredients. Earl Grey Tea, boiling water, bobas or tapioca pearls, simple syrup, half and half, and ice.

How To Make Earl Grey Milk Tea with Boba

This is a short summary of the steps, the recipe card below will have more details.

Steep the Earl Grey tea for 5 minutes.
Cook the Boba as specified on the package. Then soak them in a simple syrup and tea mixture.
Make the Earl Grey Milk Tea. To a glass add the boba, ice, earl grey tea, half and half, and simple syrup.
Stir and sip!

How to serve hot and without boba: Heat the half and half and simple syrup in a saucepan before adding it in with the hot tea.

Prepared boba or tapioca pearls in earl grey tea and simple syrup

Earl Grey Milk Tea in a glass with a big straw.

Things You Need to Know About Boba

There are two types of boba, and you always want to use the quick cook variety. They require a lot less time to make… like 24 hours less.
Boba should be prepared right before you are going to make your milk tea for the best flavor and texture.
Do not skip letting your boba soak in the simple syrup and tea mixture. This is when they absorb flavor and no longer taste like gooey starch balls.
Boba should never be stored in the refrigerator, even if you have some leftover, because as they cool they get tough and hard. Basically you need to use them immediately or throw them out.
Boba pearls are large and will not go through regular straws, so I recommend getting some reusable boba tea straws.

Tips For The Best Earl Grey Milk Tea

Use high quality tea to ensure the best Earl Grey flavor. I like using Twining’s bag tea, it is great for the price point and quality.
Allow the Earl Grey tea to cool down for about 10 minutes before making your drink. If it is too warm, it will curdle the half and half. Yuck!
Don’t steep the tea longer than 5 minutes because it will get bitter. If you want a stronger Earl Grey flavor add another tea bag or more leaf tea.
Adjust the amount of simple syrup to your liking. I prefer my milk tea slightly sweet but not too much and this recipe reflects that.

Earl Grey Milk Tea with Bobas and a large Boba straw.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Can Milk Tea be made ahead of time?

If you would like to prepare this ahead, I suggest having the Earl Grey tea steeped (no more than 3 days in advance) and the simple syrup prepared. The boba (tapioca pearls) should not be prepared ahead of time because they tend to lose their texture and do not store well once cooked.

Where can I buy boba (tapioca pearls)?

I purchase mine on Amazon because I can never find them in the grocery stores where I live. But if you live in a larger city, check the ethnic food aisle. There are many different varieties you can choose from but I use quick cook black boba. Oh and don’t forget to buy a few reusable boba straws!

Does Earl Grey Milk Tea have caffeine?

Yes, this specific recipe does because it is made with caffeinated tea but you can easily use caffeine free Earl Grey Tea if you would like.

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