Looking for an extra fancy beverage to serve? We recommend Hokkaido milk tea. The combination of flavors provides a delicious experience. Plus adding a few prepared boba in the bottom of the glass will give your guests a delight.
Hokkaido Milk Tea, A Japanese Bubble Tea Recipe
Have you had bubble tea before? If not, you should try it. You just might like it. This particular kind of milk tea, is a Japanese bubble tea.
We’ve included our full recipe below so that you can enjoy it.
What is Hokkaido Milk Tea?
Hokkaido milk tea is made from black tea as the base, then mixed with Hokkaido milk which gives it a creamy caramel flavor. It is also sweetened with sugar.
To top it off, you can add boba or tapioca pearls to give it visual interest and a bit of a fun flair.
Hokkaido Milk Tea Vs Milk Tea
What’s the difference between Hokkaido milk tea and milk tea? You might be wondering if they’re the same thing or if there really is a difference.
In essence some would say they’re one in the same. And they’re both a Japanese specialty. They use the same kind of tea, and they are both sweetened with sugar.
The difference that comes into play is the milk that’s used. Hokkaido is a dairy region in Japan, and milk that comes from this region is named as such.
With Oolong Tea
Some might choose to make it with Oolong tea. It’s a Chinese tea that’s produced through a process of withering the plant under sunlight.
It allows the leaves to go through oxidation before curling.
With Boba
Boba is where the fun comes into play. Boba, or the bubbles add visual interest, along with texture that can be a delight.
Some might also choose to use prepared tapioca pearls for the same purpose.
Cooking Tips
When making this tea, we recommend preparing the boba or tapioca pearls first, and then setting those aside to prepare the tea.
Once the tea is prepared, you’re ready to assemble your delightful drink.
Serving Tips
You can serve this tea hot or cold, according to your personal preference. And if you use boba or tapioca pearls in it, you’ll want to serve it with a wide mouth straw.
Otherwise, your guests will have difficulty consuming it through a regular thin straw.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe works because it provides a delicious outcome that’s authentic to its ethnic origin.
The milk tea is easy to make with our step-by-step recipe below.
The recipe provides a drink that’s visually attractive.
Hot Brewed Tea
Hot brewed tea can be naturally served after the tea is brewed. Or it can be served later on after reheating the milk tea.
Cold Brewed Tea
Is Hokkaido milk tea good? We tend to think so. Serving cold brewed tea is also an option. Just cool it before serving it and then add the boba.
Brown Sugar Syrup
Some recipes call for brown sugar syrup while others call for added sugar as the sweetener. Either way, they each accomplish a similar goal of making the tea sweet.
Boba / Tapioca Pearls
Do you notice what appear to be the little balls in the bottom of the glass? Those are added for interest, texture, and flavor.
They can be achieved by preparing boba or tapioca pearls and adding them to the mix.
What Does Hokkaido Milk Tea Taste Like?
When you consume Hokkaido milk tea, you’ll notice a variety of flavors that when they’re combined, create a unique experience.
Here is what it tastes like:
Black tea
Smoky
Earthy
Nutty
Creamy
Milky
Rich
Sweet
Hokkaido Vs Okinawa Milk Tea
Is there a difference between Hokkaido milk tea and Okinawa milk tea? While both teas will be creamy, Hokkaido milk tea will be thicker and creamier.
They each have a distinct flavor, and both are quite sweet.
Royal Milk Tea Vs Traditional Milk Tea
The difference between traditional milk tea and royal milk tea is that generally speaking, traditional milk tea is prepared by adding milk to tea that’s been brewed with water.
Royal milk tea, on the other hand, is traditionally brewed by steeping tea leaves in hot water mixed milk.
How to Make Hokkaido Milk Tea Recipe: A Unique Twist on Milk Tea from Japan
Following are our step by step instructions for how to make Hokkaido Milk Tea Recipe.
Ingredients
1 cup black tea
¼ cup prepared boba or tapioca pearls
¼ cup Hokkaido milk
1 tablespoon brown sugar syrup
Instructions
Prepare tapioca pearls or boba by boiling 2 cups of water in a saucepan and adding boba or tapioca.
Cook for about 5 minutes until done. Drain and rinse.
Hot brew tea using 1-2 tea bags with 1 cup boiling water. Add brown sugar syrup.
Mix in Hokkaido milk and boba.
Serve and enjoy.
How To Drink Milk Tea
You can drink milk tea either warm or cold. Either way is delicious, but it depends on your personal preference.
When serving milk tea with boba, we recommend a wide mouth straw made for bubble tea.
Storage & Reheating
If you have leftover tea, likely you’ll want to know how to best store and reheat it. Here are our recommendations.
Storage
Store any leftover tea in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. We don’t recommend storing any already prepared boba or tapioca pearls as those don’t keep well.
If they’ve already been prepared and added to your tea, you can simply remove them.
Reheating
Hokkaido tea can be served warm or cold. If you want to reheat it, you can place it in a saucepan on the stovetop over low heat until warmed to the desired temperature.
Variations
Following are a few recipe variations if you desire to use them.
Boba. Instead of using boba, you can use prepared tapioca pearls.
Brown sugar syrup. Instead of using brown sugar syrup, you can substitute 2 teaspoons of white sugar and stir it until it’s dissolved.
Warm or cold. Your Hokkaido tea can be served either warm or cold, depending on your personal preference.
The Best Times to Take Royal Milk Tea
Any time is the best time to serve royal milk tea such as Hokkaido milk tea, especially in the morning.
FAQ and Expert Tips
Following are frequently asked questions that relate to Hokkaido milk tea. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it to us using the comments box below and we’ll be happy to answer it.
How do you make brown sugar syrup?
To make brown sugar syrup, you’ll dissolve brown sugar into a small amount of liquid such as water and heat it to suspend the sugar.
What is Hokkaido milk tea?
Hokkaido milk tea is a Japanese tea that’s made with a black tea base, unlike most Japanese teas.
What kind of tea is Hokkaido milk tea?
It’s made with black tea.
Is Hokkaido milk tea vegan?
No, it’s made with milk from cows, which makes it not vegan.
Is Hokkaido milk tea gluten-free?
Yes, it is made with gluten free ingredients.
Does Hokkaido milk tea contain caffeine?
Yes, it’s made from black tea which contains caffeine.
Is Hokkaido milk tea healthy?
It is higher fat than plain matcha tea or green tea.
Is Hokkaido Milk tea bitter?
It shouldn’t taste bitter. It should be a sweet, creamy tea.
How many calories are in Hokkaido Milk Tea?
There are approximately 203 calories in a glass of tea when using our recipe above.
Please keep in mind that calories will vary from product to product and brand to brand.
Be sure to calculate calories based on the ingredients you intend to use.
What’s In a Hokkaido Milk Tea?
What is it made of? Our recipe above includes black tea, prepared boba or tapioca pearls, Hokkaido milk, and brown sugar syrup.
What does Hokkaido milk tea taste like?
It tastes sweet and creamy.
Is Hokkaido milk tea sweet?
Yes, it is a sweet milk tea.
More Recipes:
Chick-fil-A Sweet Tea Recipe Copycat
Alfalfa Tea Recipe Benefits and Uses
Panera Bread Iced Green Tea Recipe Copycat
The Best Christmas Tea Recipe
Other Types of Milk Tea:
Taro Milk Tea
Strawberry Milk Tea
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Hokkaido Milk Tea
Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup black tea
- ¼ cup prepared boba or tapioca pearls
- ¼ cup Hokkaido milk
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar syrup
Instructions
- Prepare tapioca pearls or boba by boiling 2 cups of water in a saucepan and adding boba or tapioca.
- Cook for about 5 minutes until done. Drain and rinse.
- Hot brew tea using 1-2 tea bags with 1 cup boiling water. Add brown sugar syrup.
- Mix in Hokkaido milk and boba.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
You can drink milk tea either warm or cold. Either way is delicious, but it depends on your personal preference. When serving milk tea with boba, we recommend a wide mouth straw made for bubble tea. Storage & Reheating
If you have leftover tea, likely you’ll want to know how to best store and reheat it. Here are our recommendations. Storage
Store any leftover tea in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. We don’t recommend storing any already prepared boba or tapioca pearls as those don’t keep well. If they’ve already been prepared and added to your tea, you can simply remove them. Reheating
Hokkaido tea can be served warm or cold. If you want to reheat it, you can place it in a saucepan on the stovetop over low heat until warmed to the desired temperature.
Nutrition
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