Rose Milk Tea is a unique and deliciously satisfying beverage that a lot of people have not tried yet. Though this tea isn’t a typical drink, there is no doubt that it fits many tea-lovers’ taste preferences.
Made with milk and tea of any type, rose milk tea can bring a delight to taste buds and leave you satisfied and refreshed after a hot day.
What is Rose Milk Tea?
Rose Milk Tea is one of the not well known milk teas, despite its unique and delicate floral flavor. Some people feel hesitant about drinking milk tea made from rose buds, but it’s incredibly delicious!
Rose Milk Tea is less common in your everyday boba tea shop, however there are some that carry it, so be sure to be on the lookout! You can also make it yourself.
Rose infused tea has been consumed in China for over 2000 years, and still is to this day.
The base for this delicious floral drink is homemade rose simple syrup, however you can also use rose powder or store bought rose syrup. The homemade syrup is entirely natural. Other ingredients for this drink are milk, tea and boba pearls.
This drink can be caffeinated or decaf, depending on if you decide to add black tea, green tea or no tea. Both are equally as tasty.
What Does Rose Milk Tea Taste Like?
Rose Milk Tea tastes sweet, delicate, and floral. It is a very light and refreshing drink, with a perfumed rose smell. This milk tea is not overwhelming in flavor. It’s subtle and perfect for hot summer days.
This drink is also creamy, as it contains milk. Plant-based milk can also be used, which will somewhat change the flavor of the boba tea. Oat milk or Soy are great alternatives without losing the creamy flavor.
There is also the flavor profile that comes from the tea base, if included. If you’re looking for a lighter and grassy flavor, consider adding green tea. If black tea is used, the milk tea will taste more earthy and malty.
Recipe for Rose Milk Tea
This recipe is easy to follow and can be made by anyone in the comfort of their home. The ingredients for Rose Milk Tea are also easy to find and affordable.
What you’ll need are:
- Edible rose buds(make sure they are food grade)
- White sugar
- Milk of choice
- Tea
- Tapioca pearls
- Optional: dried edible rose petals for decoration
Start off by making a rose simple syrup.
- 1 cup dried rose buds
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Place the sugar, water, and edible roses into a medium saucepan. Cook over high heat until the water starts to boil.
Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Use a fine mesh sieve to drain the liquid and remove the roses.
Return the liquid to the stove and cook over low heat for another 10 minutes. The syrup should have the consistency of a thick syrup.
The next step is steeping and preparing the tea. Pairing the right tea will compliment the floral notes nicely.
A jasmine green tea or rose green tea works nicely, as well as a plain black tea. The idea is to not overpower the rose flavor we are trying to blend together.
Steep tea according to package instructions using the right water temperature. After steeping, allow tea to come to room temperature, then place in the fridge to chill.
Prepare boba pearls as instructed on the package. It’s usually ready once the pearls rise to the surface. Let them sit in the syrup to absorb sweetness.
Additionally, after they are done cooking, you can add some to some hot rose syrup to have them absorb more rose flavor.
Now- the fun part! To assemble the Rose Milk Tea:
- Add desired amount of rose syrup to milk of choice and stir to combine
- In a glass, add cooked Tapioca pearls to the bottom, and a little more rose syrup
- Pour cold tea over boba and syrup
- Top with desired amount of rose Milk
- Add desired amount of ice
- Stir and enjoy!
- Optional: Top with dried edible rose for decoration
How Much Caffeine Is in Rose Milk Tea?
While rosebuds and tapioca pearls do not have any caffeine, the tea base if you choose to include one does. Therefore, how much caffeine will vary depending on the type of tea that is used.
Typically an average cup of black tea has around 47 mg of caffeine. On the other hand, green tea usually has around 28 mg of caffeine per cup.
Other Tips and Advice
Rose milk tea tastes the best as soon as it’s prepared. Serve it immediately and enjoy within 2 hours for the best flavor and texture of the pearls.
Rose syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
The tea of your choice can be made in advance, in a large quantity, and refrigerated for up to 4 days. This is also great if you’re making different types of milk tea.
Once boba pearls are cooked they need to be consumed immediately or within 2 hours. If they are left for a long time, the texture can become hard and unpleasant.
Hibiscus leaves can help turn the rose simple syrup into a vibrant red with only a few leaves of hibiscus tea. This will give the entire milk tea a pretty pink color. Without hibiscus, the tea will look light in color.
If you don’t have one already, consider investing in a thick reusable glass straw that’s large enough for the boba pearls to fit through.
Conclusion
Light, floral, creamy, and refreshing, rose milk tea is a great afternoon treat. While it may not be common, it is easy to make and has a unique flavor profile that everyone can enjoy.
Try impressing your guests when making this recipe, this surely is a delight that all tea lovers should try at least once!
