Fresh and floral Jasmine Milk Tea made with Jasmine green tea and boba pearls. This bubble tea has a very light sweet flavour, is easy to make and extremely refreshing!
With many different bubble teas available, it’s difficult to know which one to choose. From Oolong Milk Tea to Tiger Milk Tea or Okinawa Milk Tea, bubble teas can be very different.
Jasmine Milk Tea is a type of Bubble Tea that has a very subtle, sweet, and floral flavour. Made with Jasmine green tea, this type of milk tea is one of the most refreshing out of all bubble teas. Fresh milk is then added for extra creaminess, then topped with tapioca pearls and cream.
It’s no wonder that most bubble tea shops have Jasmine Boba as their most popular choice. This milk tea is not overly sweet, it’s delicate and has a perfumed scent from the Jasmine flowers.
So, if you’re looking for a floral and delicate milk tea flavour, look no further than this recipe!
What is Jasmine Milk Tea?
Jasmine Milk Tea is a sweet drink made with Jasmine tea, milk, and tapioca pearls. It is a type of bubble tea that gets its name from the tea used to make it.
Jasmine Bubble Tea is one of the most popular Milk Tea flavours because of its floral and almost perfumed taste. Typically made with green tea, Jasmine Bubble Tea is very refreshing as it tastes very light and fresh.
Although this bubble tea can be served both warm and cold, it tasted best cold. Add a few ice cubes to make this refreshing drink perfect for hot summer days.
What does it taste like?
Jasmine Boba Tea is usually described as tasting very light, fresh, and floral. The final flavour, however, depends greatly on what type of Jasmine Tea is used in making the milk tea.
The most common blend used in Jasmine Bubble Tea is Jasmine green tea. The combination of Jasmine flowers and green tea yields the most fresh and floral taste. The flavour profile can be described as delicate, sweet, floral with hints of perfumed fragrance.
The Jasmine tea base is then topped with milk, which makes the bubble tea silky smooth and creamier.
Why this recipe is great
- Floral flavour: Jasmine Bubble Tea is a very popular choice because of its floral and perfumed flavour. Out of all bubble teas, this one is probably the most naturally sweet and fragranced.
- Not very sweet: Jasmine Tea gets its sweetness from dried Jasmine flowers. This natural sweetness is very subtle and much more aromatic than regular sugar.
- Easy to make at home: This recipe takes only a few minutes to make from start to finish!
- Very refreshing: Made with a green tea base and topped with ice cubes, this drink is extremely refreshing and perfect for summer.
Types of Jasmine Tea
Jasmine flowers have long been celebrated for their purity and calming fragrance. Jasmine tea draws its origins in 2nd century China when the Han Dynasty started enjoying its delicate flavour. A closely guarded Chinese flavour, Jasmine only became popular in the rest of the world over 1000 years later.
Most of the world’s Jasmine tea is produced in China and Japan, with Jasmine flowers growing only on mountains.
Jasmine tea is made with dried Jasmine flowers and tea leaves. This blend can be made with white, green, or black tea. The most common tea used with Jasmine is green tea, as it perfectly complements the subtle flavour and adds freshness.
Here are some of the most popular types of Jasmine Teas, perfect for making Jasmine Milk Tea:
- Loose Leaf Jasmine Green Tea: a mixture of green tea leaves and dried Jasmine flowers. This tea is perfect for a floral flavour, as it contains actual flower buds. Although this type of Jasmine tea can be a little more expensive, it’s worth the investment for the purest and most fragrant aroma. Choose Loose Leaf Jasmine Green Tea for the perfect balance of freshness and aroma.
- Jasmine Dragon Pearl Tea: green tea leaves are infused with Jasmine blossoms, then rolled into small balls. This type of tea has a floral flavour and looks beautiful when brewing. Jasmine dragon pearl tea is a good choice for making this recipe, but tastes less floral than loose leaf jasmine tea.
- Jasmine Silver Needle Tea: made with white tea and jasmine blossoms. White tea is the least processed type of tea, noted for its extremely fresh flavour. It pairs really well with Jasmine blossoms and is also a great choice for this recipe. Go for Jasmine Silver Needle Tea for an extremely light flavour, with little ‘tea’ taste.
Ingredient round-up
- Jasmine tea: the most important ingredient in this recipe. Choose a high-quality Jasmine tea, preferably loose leaf. See the section above for more details on how to choose the perfect Jasmine tea for this recipe.
- Milk: whole milk is recommended for this recipe.
- Tapioca pearls: brown sugar tapioca pearls work best. I recommend using 5-minute Wu Fu Yuan tapioca pearls because they are very quick to cook.
- Brown sugar: regular light brown sugar works best for this recipe. You can also use Japanese brown sugar for a lighter caramel flavour.
- Cream: completely optional. Add a little cream as a topping for extra creaminess.
- Water: I recommend using filtered water for best results, especially for brewing the Jasmine tea.
How to brew perfect Jasmine Tea
Jasmine tea is extremely delicate, and it needs a little extra care when preparing. Here’s how to achieve the perfect flavour:
- Boil filtered water to 175°F (80°C). Use a kitchen thermometer if needed.
- Place the Jasmine tea into a teapot fitted with an infuser. Pour the water over the tea leaves, then cover.
- Steep for 3 minutes, then remove the tea leaves.
- Use immediately for a hot drink or let cool down for cold milk tea.
Pro tip: never brew Jasmine green tea for longer than 3 minutes, as it can make the tea taste bitter.
How to make Jasmine Milk Tea from scratch
Making Jasmine Boba Tea from scratch is really easy and only takes minutes of preparation. First, we need to prepare all the components of the recipe: the sugar syrup, tapioca pearls and Jasmine tea.
- Cook the brown sugar and water until thick and sticky.
- Separately, cook the tapioca pearls. Drain, then add into sugar syrup.
- Cook tapioca and sugar syrup on low heat for a few minutes.
- Brew the Jasmine tea as indicated in the section above, then let cool down to room temperature.
Pro tip: for a more subtle flavour, replace the brown sugar syrup with runny honey.
Assembling the Jasmine Bubble Tea should be done right before serving the drink to ensure the best flavour and texture.
- Place tapioca pearls and syrup into a serving glass.
- Pour Jasmine tea over the tapioca, about ¾ of the glass.
- Add milk on top, filling the glass.
- Optional: top with a little cream for extra creaminess.
Success Tips & Tricks
- High quality tea: Jasmine tea is the main ingredient in this recipe, so it’s important to use a good quality tea. See the section on Types of Jasmine Tea for more details on how to choose the best type of tea.
- Perfectly brewed tea: Never brew Jasmine tea for longer than 3 minutes, as this can result in a bitter flavour.
- Adjust sweetness: We all have different preferences on sweetness, so adjust the sugar syrup to your own taste. Leave out syrup for no sweetness, add 1 tablespoons of syrup for a little sweetness and 2-3 tablespoons of syrup for extra sweet.
- Serve immediately: Jasmine Bubble Tea will taste best as soon as it’s made, so make sure you assemble it right before serving.
- Bubble tea straws: Tapioca pearls are too large for regular straws, so I recommend getting some reusable bubble tea straws.
How to store
Jasmine Green Tea can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated in an airtight jar or bottle for up to 4 days. Add the milk and tapioca pearls immediately before serving.
Cooked tapioca pearls need to be consumed within a maximum of 2 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Jasmine tea goes really well with milk. Jasmine Milk Tea is a popular type of drink, see the recipe below.
Jasmine Bubble Tea contains caffeine, as it’s made with green tea. However, green tea has a much lower caffeine content than coffee.
Jasmine Tea can have a relaxing effect, but since most blends contain caffeine, it should not make you sleepy.
Jasmine bubble tea is typically between 280-360 Kcal. The exact number can vary greatly on how much sugar syrup is used in the recipe. This recipe contains 280 Kcal.
Yes, it's usually sweet. The level of sweetness depends on how much sugar syrup is added when preparing the bubble tea.
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Recipe
Jasmine Milk Tea Recipe
Ingredients
Jasmine Tea Base
- 3 teaspoons Jasmine green tea, loose leaf
- 2 cups water, filtered (450 grams)
- 1 cup whole milk (240 grams)
- 2 tablespoons cream, optional
Sugar Syrup
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed (100 grams)
- 3 ½ tablespoons water (50 grams)
Tapioca pearls
- ¾ cup tapioca pearls (100 grams)
- 3 cups water (700 grams)
Instructions
Jasmine Tea Base
- Boil a kettle of filtered water to 175°F (80°C). If needed, use a kitchen thermometer to check the temperature.
- Place the jasmine green tea leaves into a teapot fitted with infuser. Pour the hot water over the leaves, then cover.
- Let the tea steep for 3 minutes, afterwards remove the tea leaves and discard. Do not steep for longer than this, as this will make the tea taste bitter.
- Cool down the tea completely to room temperature.
Sugar Syrup
- In a saucepan, place the brown sugar and water. Cook over medium-high heat until it starts bubbling.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer until the syrup becomes thicker, for about 4-5 minutes.
Tapioca Pearls
- Cook the pearls as indicated on the package. Drain and discard the water.
- Add the cooked pearls into the hot sugar syrup, then cook on low heat for 2-3 minutes. Toss the pearls around to coat them in syrup.
Assembling the Jasmine Milk Tea
- In a serving glass, place 1-2 tablespoons of cooked tapioca pearls. Add sugar syrup to taste for desired sweetness.
- Pour the cooled tea over the tapioca, about ¾ to the top of the glass.
- Add cold milk over the tea and leave room for ice cubes if desired. Serve fresh.
- Optional: top with cream for extra creaminess.
Notes
- Sugar syrup can be replaced with runny honey.
- Sweetness can be adjusted according to personal preference.
- Nutritional value is estimative and is calculated per serving (this recipe makes 2 large servings) with tapioca pearls and 1 tablespoon of sugar syrup.
- Use boba pearls immediately after cooking them.
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Fiona says
The first time I made this I made the milk tea without reading your recipe carefully so it tasted bitter. Then I read your tips on how to brew jasmine tea at 175F for 3 minutes and it came out much better!! It makes such a big difference in flavour, thanks for all the cool tips and tricks!
Trang W says
Someone needs to take this recipe away from me because I have been making it constantly. It's just so addictive.
Chrissy says
Seriously addictive flavor, I've had 4 in the past week alone!
Hanelore Dumitrache says
Happy to hear that Chrissy, Jasmine milk tea is one of my favourites too!
Sammie says
Really nice flavor!