How to Make Milk Tea at Home (Stronger, Cheaper, Healthier!)

Easy Homemade Milk Tea Recipe (Healthy, Budget-Friendly)

Milk tea is my go-to drink — morning, afternoon, or even late at night. But with health goals and a tighter budget, I’ve made a personal rule: milk tea from cafés or big-name brands is for treats only. The rest of the time? I make my own at home or at work. 

If you're looking for a homemade milk tea recipe that’s easy, customizable, and honestly satisfying, this one’s for you. No special tools, just tea bags, milk, and a few pantry staples.

My Easy, Healthy Milk Tea Recipe (With Tea Bags)

This is my everyday milk tea routine — strong tea flavor, light on sugar, and quick to make. It helps curb cravings without splurging or overloading on sugar.

✨ Ingredients (Yields 2 cups):

• 500ml boiling water

• 3 black tea bags (I use Lipton most days — see below for other brands)

• 60ml milk (whole milk, oat milk, soy milk — up to you)

• 4 tsp sugar (or swap with honey, monk fruit, etc.)
  
  

☕ How to Make Milk Tea at Home

1. Boil the water

Bring it to a full, rolling boil — hot water from the tap or kettle warm-up isn’t enough for a proper steep.

2. Steep the tea

• Add 3 black tea bags  into your 500ml of boiling water.

• Let it steep for 5–8 minutes depending on the tea strength you want.

• Don’t go beyond 10 minutes — cheaper teas can get bitter or leave a dusty aftertaste.

3. Add milk and sweetener

• Start with 60ml of milk and 4 tsp sugar (or your sweetener of choice).

• Stir, taste, adjust.

• I like just enough milk to enhance the tea, not cover it.

• ✨ Pro tip: After a while, you’ll know your perfect milk tea just by the color. I eyeball the shade now — no need to measure. Just pour milk until it looks right to you.It’s super helpful when you’re making it fast or on autopilot.
  
  

Notes from Experience

• Cheaper tea bags (like Lipton) can leave a "tea dust" aftertaste if oversteeped.

• Ahmad Tea is smoother and forgiving — great if you forget to pull the bag out on time.

• Want stronger tea? Use less water or one extra tea bag.

• Some teas are naturally lighter — you’ll need to adjust steeping time or quantity if you're after bold flavor.

Tea Bag Adjustments by Brand

Brand	Tea Bags	Water	Notes
Lipton	3 bags	500ml	Budget option; avoid oversteeping
Ahmad Tea	2 bags	450ml	Smooth, no bitterness
Twinings	2 bags	450ml	Milder — good for mellow milk tea
Big tea bags (e.g. Yorkshire)	2 bags	500ml	Stronger, good for bold teas

---

 Healthy Milk Tea Tips

• Use less sugar or swap for honey or stevia.

• Try oat milk or soy milk for a dairy-free version.

• Make a stronger tea base so you don’t have to rely on sweetener for flavor. 
  
  

Popular Variations to Try

Type	What’s Different
Hong Kong-style	Strong black tea + evaporated + condensed milk
Thai milk tea	Thai tea mix + sweetened condensed milk
British-style	English Breakfast + splash of milk, no sugar
Iced boba-style	Sweetened tea + milk + tapioca pearls

---

❓ FAQ: Healthy Milk Tea at Home

Q: How do I make milk tea healthier?
A: Use less sugar, opt for oat or soy milk, and skip the toppings like boba. Brewing your own tea at home gives you full control.

Q: Can I make milk tea with tea bags?
A: Yes — strong black tea bags like Lipton, Twinings, Ahmad, or Yorkshire work great.

Q: What’s the best tea for milk tea?
A: English Breakfast, Ceylon, and Assam are all great black tea bases. Ahmad and Yorkshire are solid picks.

🛍 Where to Buy Tea Bags

Look for these brands online (Amazon, iHerb, Shopee) or in major supermarkets. Discount stores often stock Twinings and Lipton for less.

Want my full tea bag breakdown? 👉 Check out my guide to the best black tea bags for milk tea.

---

Final Sip

Making milk tea at home has become my daily ritual — fast, budget-friendly, and healthier than takeout. It’s fast, budget-friendly, and you can tweak it until it’s exactly the way you like it — strong, milky, sweet, or not.

Once you dial in your perfect tea-to-milk ratio, you’ll be satisfied with your home-café brews and save money in the process.

Let me know how you make your milk tea — or your favorite brand! I’m always looking to try new blends or hacks.

— Annabel ☕