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    Home » Vegan Recipes

    Earl Grey Milk Bubble Tea - Hot or Cold

    Published: Nov 6, 2022 by Tajda Ferko This post may contain affiliate links

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    Jump to Recipe

    This 4-ingredient Earl Grey milk tea is served with chewy tapioca pearls & SO delicious! Made with oat milk, simple sugar syrup, and exquisite Earl Grey tea!

    A glass of Earl Grey bubble tea.
    Jump to:
    • 💌 Why I Love This Recipe
    • 🥛 Ingredients
    • 🥄 Equipment
    • ⏲️ Steps
    • 💡 Expert Tips
    • 🥄 Boba Pearls
    • ❓FAQ
    • 🍊 Add-ons
    • 📦 Storing 
    • 🍹More Boba Recipes
    • 🍴Recipe
    • Earl Grey Milk Bubble Tea - Hot or Cold

    After receiving so much positive feedback on my honeydew, vanilla & jasmine milk teas, I'm here with another CLASSIC!

    Making this DIY Earl Grey boba is so much cheaper than buying it from bubble tea shops (Gong Cha, Chatime, etc) but just as flavourful!

    💌 Why I Love This Recipe

    • Rich, gently sweet, malty flavor!
    • Not watery
    • Can be served hot or cold
    • Super easy
    • Made from just 4 ingredients

    🥛 Ingredients

    You'll need just 4 simple ingredients to make your own bubble tea.

    Ingredients needed to make bubble tea with Earl Grey.

    Ingredient Details

    Milk

    I used oat milk but you can use any other milk you want (like soy, cashew milk, etc). Avoid strong-flavored kinds of milk like coconut milk or rice milk. Those will overpower the Earl Grey flavor.

    Earl Grey Tea

    I used decaf Earl Grey tea by Twinings. You can use any other Earl Grey tea - either regular or decaf. Both teabags or loose-leaf tea will work okay.

    Boba (tapioca) balls

    Find them in your local Asian supermarket or online (Amazon, eBay). In the United States, you can often find them in Walmart. I used quick-cooking boba pearls with a black sugar flavor.

    Brown Sugar

    I used light brown sugar to make a simple brown sugar syrup. It adds a lovely flavor but isn't so dark as to change the color of the drink. If you don't have brown sugar on hand, white granulated sugar will work too.

    Did you know? Bergamot oil (or bergamot essence) is what gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive flavor! Bergamot orange is an aromatic green fruit shaped like a pear.

    🥄 Equipment

    • A small pan - for cooking boba pearls
    • A mug - for making the tea
    • A spoon or scoop - to stir & scoop out the pearls
    • 2 large glasses - for serving
    • 2 large straws - optional

    ⏲️ Steps

    Hint - The photos below should serve as a super quick visual overview! For detailed steps & quantities scroll down to the recipe card.

    This recipe makes 2 large portions.

    If you prefer to serve it hot see my tips section below.

    A collage of six images showing all the steps in making bubble tea.
    1. Prepare a cup of tea. Let steep for 2-5 minutes. Then set it aside to let it cool.
    2. In a small pan, cook the tapioca pearls. Drain the water, but reserve about 3 tbsp. Once drained, cover the tapioca with sugar and the reserved water. This will create a simple syrup.
    3. Mix well and set aside.
    4. Add boba pears & ice cubes to a glass.
    5. Pour cooled-down Earl Grey tea on top.
    6. Then add cold milk.

    Voilà!

    💡 Expert Tips

    • Don't steep the Earl Grey tea for longer than 2-5 minutes. Overstepping it will make it taste bitter.
    • Give the drink a good stir before serving.
    • If you have the time, it's a good idea to prepare the tea ahead of time and let it cool in the fridge before serving.
    • If serving cold, use PLENTY of ice cubes especially if your boba pearls are still a little warm.

    Want to serve it HOT? Simply skip the ice cubes and make sure that the milk & tea are warm before serving.

    🥄 Boba Pearls

    A bag of quick-cooking tapioca pearls.

    If it's your first time making boba pearls before you might find the process a little intimidating. There's no need to worry!

    They are SO easy to make.

    Just follow the easy steps below:

    • Opt for quick-cooking boba pearls. They're ready within a few minutes.
    • Once cooked, don't forget to soak them in sugar+water (as described in the recipe) immediately. This prevents them from sticking together.
    • Alternatively, you can also soak them in maple syrup or any other liquid sweetener.
    • You can adjust their texture to your taste. Cook them for longer if you prefer a softer texture.
    • They won't get much softer once they're added to the final drink so make sure you're happy with their consistency.

    ❓FAQ

    What does Earl Grey milk tea taste like?

    It tastes similar to black tea boba but with added citrusy flavor (from bergamot).

    It's a little sweet, caramel-like, malty, hearty & smooth.

    How many calories are in this Earl Grey milk tea?

    There are approx. 220 calories per one (large) portion.

    Is this recipe vegan?

    Yes, I used oat milk so this recipe is 100% vegan.

    Boba pearls are made using tapioca starch which means they are naturally vegan.

    🍊 Add-ons

    A side view of Earl Grey milk tea with ice.

    The brilliant thing about this drink is that you can customize it SO easily to take it to the next level.

    I've recently tested a few add-on options and these made the top of my list:

    • Vanilla extract. Just add a teaspoon or two to the drink & mix well. If you're using real vanilla extract it won't just add amazing flavor but also add beautiful black specks on top.
    • Maple syrup. Compliments the flavors of Earl Grey so well! Simply add some at the end and stir well.
    • Orange peels. You could add some orange peel directly to the hot tea. Let steep for a little longer (around 10 mins) and then strain.
    • Non-dairy creamer. If you like a fuller, thicker texture. Simply use a little less milk and sub it for the creamer.

    📦 Storing 

    I always recommend enjoying boba tea fresh.

    However, if you have any leftovers, store them in the fridge for 1-2 days.

    Remember to remove any ice cubes before storing the drink because they will melt and dilute the drink. Nobody likes watery boba tea!

    Got some leftover boba pearls? Serve them separately from the drink, covered in sugar syrup. They'll keep in the fridge for a few days.

    🍹More Boba Recipes

    Milk being poured into a glass.

    Boba lovers rejoice! This blog contains a HUGE selection of boba recipes including:

    • Chocolate Milk Tea
    • Lychee Milk Tea
    • Okinawa Milk Tea
    • Peach Milk Tea
    • Strawberry Milk Tea

    And lots more! Simply use the search bar at the top (or in the menu if viewing on your phone) and type in 'milk tea'.

    Considering making this Earl Grey milk tea but have questions? The comments section below is always open and waiting for your questions!

    Made this recipe? I would SO love to hear from you. A star review, comment, or rating are always MUCH appreciated.

    🍴Recipe

    Earl Grey Milk Bubble Tea - Hot or Cold

    Turn your kitchen into a bubble tea shop with this incredible 4-ingredient Earl Grey milk tea! Served with or without chewy tapioca pearls.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Drinks
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 222kcal
    Author: Tajda Ferko

    Equipment

    • 1 small pan
    • 1 Mug
    • 1 spoon
    • 2 large glasses
    • 2 Large straws optional

    Ingredients

    • 1 bag Earl Grey tea or 1 teaspoon loose leaf
    • ½ cup quick-cooking tapioca pearls
    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar or granulated white
    • 1 cup milk I used unsweetened oat milk

    Optional

    • 1 handful ice cubes for serving
    US Cups - Metric

    Instructions

    • Prepare 1 cup/235ml of tea (as written in the original recipe which serves 2 portions/ adjust accordingly if you changed the portion size). Let steep for 2-5 minutes. Then set it aside to let it cool.
      1 bag Earl Grey tea
    • Add tapioca (boba) pearls to a saucepan and cover them with boiling hot water. Simmer for 3-5 minutes. Hint - Read the instructions on your tapioca pearls packaging. Cooking times can vary per brand.
      ½ cup quick-cooking tapioca pearls
    • Reserve 3 tablespoons of water and drain the rest.
    • Once drained, cover the tapioca with sugar and the reserved water. This will create an ultra-simple sugar syrup. Mix well and set aside.
      2 tablespoon brown sugar
    • Add boba pears & ice cubes to a glass. Pour cooled-down Earl Grey tea on top.
      1 handful ice cubes
    • Then add cold milk. Voilà! Stir well & enjoy!
      1 cup milk

    Notes

    • Don't steep the Earl Grey tea for longer than 2-5 minutes. Overstepping it will make it taste bitter.
    • If you have the time, it's a good idea to prepare the tea ahead of time and let it cool in the fridge before serving.
    • If serving cold, use PLENTY of ice cubes especially if your boba pearls are still a little warm.
    TO SERVE HOT - Skip the ice cubes. Ensure the milk & tea are warm before serving.
    TO STORE - Best enjoyed fresh. Store any leftovers in the fridge for 1-2 days.
    LEFTOVER PEARLS? Serve them separately from the drink, covered in sugar syrup. Keep in the fridge for a few days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 252IU | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 1mg

    Disclaimer: The nutritional information above is calculated automatically. The author of this post cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of this data.

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