Assam Milk Tea Boba Recipe (Assam Bubble Tea)

Experience the deep flavor of homemade Assam Milk Tea, a refreshing bubble tea made with Assam tea, creamy milk, and chewy tapioca pearls. This simple-to-follow recipe delivers the perfect balance of malty tea taste and creamy sweetness!

We’re continuing our bubble tea adventure with Assam Milk Tea, a delightful blend of robust Assam black tea, creamy milk, and brown sugar. This popular beverage is a favorite among boba lovers worldwide, and for good reason!

Assam Boba Tea is a rich, creamy, and delicious drink made with authentic Assam tea, a type of black tea leaves. It has a full-bodied malty flavor, which pairs beautifully with milk. Originating from the hills of Assam, India, this black tea is the star ingredient in our recipe.

This boba is probably one of the easiest ones to make, and it tastes amazing. Its simplicity and creaminess work so well with chewy tapioca pearls, making it one of my favorite brown sugar milk tea ever!

But why limit yourself to just one type of milk tea? From the citrusy Earl Grey Milk Tea, the intriguing Tiger Milk Tea, the traditional Oolong Milk Tea, to the decadent Chocolate Boba - each recipe offers a unique twist on the classic milk tea. Get ready for a thrilling boba adventure!

Why you'll love this recipe

• Bold & Invigorating: This Assam Milk Tea recipe is a popular tea choice for bubble tea, because it has a bold flavour. Blending Assam black tea leaves with creamy milk makes it a great option for a breakfast tea with a yummy twist.
• Rich & Comforting: Assam Boba is a classic drink that tastes rich and comforting. The full-bodied flavor of Black tea which goes really well with milk and chewy tapioca pearls. I love having this drink hot in winter, so it really warms me up!
• Perfect Balance: This tea recipe perfectly balances the strong, malty flavor of Assam black tea and the creamy sweetness of milk. It’s not too bitter, not too sweet and not too milky – it’s just right!
• Quick to Make: Assam tea and all other ingredients for this black milk tea recipe are really easy to find. You can whip up this delicious brown sugar milk tea in just about 20 minutes, making it ideal for satisfying your tea cravings.

What is Assam Milk Tea?

Assam Milk Tea is a type of tea drink made with Assam black tea, milk, and often complemented with tapioca pearls. It’s one of the most popular boba flavors and can be found at most bubble tea shops. This drink is known for its robust flavour and pure milk flavor that perfectly complements the strong tea.

Assam Boba Tea, also known as Black Milk Tea, is highly favored due to its strong malty taste and deep, reddish-brown color. The Assam black tea leaves used in this drink are known for their high caffeine content and unique taste.

Although it can be served plain, tapioca pearls are an absolute must. The sweet, subtle flavor of the pearls and brown sugar syrup pairs perfectly with the bold flavor of Assam tea.

This drink is typically served hot, making it great on a cold day. However, it can also be served cold, offering a refreshing option for a hot summer day.

What does it taste like?

Assam Milk Tea tastes like rich black tea, with a comforting malty depth. This milk tea is the perfect balance between the full-bodied flavors of Assam tea and the smooth, aromatic creaminess of milk. Although similar to traditional black milk tea, Assam Boba Tea has a unique richness and subtle bitterness to it.

The flavor profile of Assam Boba Tea can be described as full-bodied, rich, and malty, with a creamy undertone that softens the strong tea flavor. Paired with the caramelized flavor of brown sugar syrup, it’s a great way to experience the bold flavors of Assam tea in a new and exciting way.

Assam Bubble Tea is made by brewing Assam black tea leaves, known for their strong, malty flavor and high caffeine content. This rich black tea forms the base of the drink, providing a depth of flavor that's both satisfying and complex.

A splash of milk is added to give it a silky-smooth texture and to balance the strong tea flavors. The addition of boba pearls adds a fun, chewy contrast and a hint of sweetness, making this hot tea a delightful treat that's both comforting and exciting.

Ingredient round-up

All ingredients needed to make Assam Boba Tea recipe can easily be found in most supermarkets. Here’s what’s needed:

• Assam Tea: the star ingredient of the Assam Boba Tea recipe. I recommend using Loose Leaf Assam Tea, but you you can also use Assam tea bags.
• Tapioca Pearls: the "boba" in Assam bubble tea. I recommend using quick cook tapioca pearls, because they’re much easier to use.
• Brown Sugar Syrup: used to sweeten the tea and tapioca pearls. You can follow my recipes for Brown Sugar Syrup for Boba.
• Milk: I recommend using whole milk for this recipe, as it gives the tea a creamy, rich texture.
• Honey: adds an extra layer of sweetness to the tea. You can adjust the amount based on your preference or leave it out entirely.

Substitutions & Variations

This Assam Milk Tea recipe is highly customizable, so you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. There are substitutions you can make if you don't have certain ingredients on hand:

• Brown Sugar Syrup: This can be replaced with any type of syrup, including simple syrup, homemade or store-bought. Just ensure it's slightly on the thicker side to maintain the right consistency for boba pearls.
• Milk: Any type of milk can be used in this recipe. If you prefer a dairy-free version of Assam Boba Tea, you can use plant-based alternatives like almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
• Honey: Can be replaced with agave nectar, maple syrup or simple syrup. You can also use low calorie sweeteners if desired.

Flavor Variations

This milk tea recipe is quite simple, so feel free to experiment with the flavors. Here are some of my favorite additions:

• Spices: Add a hint of spices like cinnamon or cardamom to give your Assam bubble tea a warm note.
• Vanilla Extract: A dash of vanilla extract can add a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor to your tea.
• Coconut Milk: Swap regular milk with coconut milk to give your drink a tropical twist. This pairs wonderfully with the robust flavor of Assam tea.
• Chai Spices: Incorporate a blend of chai spices for a spiced Assam milk tea. This could include cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger.
• Lemon Zest: Add a bit of lemon zest for a refreshing citrus note. This can brighten up the strong, malty flavor of Assam tea, making it taste a bit like Earl Grey Milk Tea.

How to make from scratch

1. Cook the tapioca pearls as indicated on the packaging.

2. In a separate pot, prepare the brown sugar syrup. Once it's ready, add the cooked boba pearls into the syrup.

3. Steep the Assam tea, then remove the tea leaves and allow the tea to cool down to room temperature.

4. Add the brown sugar-soaked boba pearls into each serving glass.

5. Pour the cooled Assam tea into each glass. If you prefer a cold drink, you can add ice cubes at this stage.

6. Top each glass with milk and serve immediately.

Success Tips & Tricks

• Quality Assam Tea: Use high-quality Assam tea for the best flavor. I recommend using loose leaf Assam tea if possible.
• Creamy Milk: Whole milk gives a richer taste. Add a splash of cream or half and half for extra creaminess.
• Sweet Boba Pearls: Infuse cooked tapioca pearls in hot brown sugar syrup for added sweetness.
• Adjust Sweetness: Be mindful of the sweetness, as the tapioca pearls are already sweetened with syrup. If using honey, add 1 teaspoon, then taste and adjust if needed.
• Serve Immediately: Serve your Assam Bubble Tea immediately after assembly, hot or cold, for the best texture. Cooked boba pearls go hard almost immediately, so you want to drink your bubble tea asap.
• Bubble Tea Straws: Use wider straws for the boba pearls. Glass straws are reusable and eco-friendly.
• Stir Well: Stir your Assam Boba Tea well before drinking. This helps mix the brown sugar syrup evenly, so you don’t have a big limp of syrup at the bottom.

Serving & Storing

Assam Boba Tea is best enjoyed fresh to ensure optimal flavor and texture. Ideally, consume the boba pearls within 1 hour of cooking to maintain their chewiness.

You can serve this tea hot or cold, it’s up to you! For a cold version, add ice cubes. For a hot version, simply skip the ice and serve with freshly steeped tea and warm milk.

If you have leftover tea, refrigerate and consume within a day. However, cooked boba cannot be stored and needs to be consumed quickly.

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