Lavender is known as a plant that promotes relaxation. Lavender tea, also known as purple tea, is garnering attention as a calm and refreshing drink. You will find multiple variations of the drink, with added milk, with boba, etc. Today, we are going to show you the best lavender milk tea recipe to prepare at home.
You can make lavender milk tea with just five simple ingredients; dried lavender, almond milk, black tea, vanilla essence, and maple syrup. The final drink will be vegan-friendly and low in calories.
Let’s see how to make lavender milk tea like a professional. You will also find a list of substitute ingredients and the best dishes that go along with it.
How to Make Lavender Milk Tea at Home
Making homemade lavender milk tea is super easy. The recipe takes around 5-10 minutes and has as few ingredients. To everyone’s delight, none of them are hard-to-find. You can easily purchase them at your nearby store.
However, remember that this recipe contains milk. So, don’t confuse it with a simple lavender tea.
Ingredients
- Dried lavender buds: You can find dried lavender flowers from a store or gather fresh lavender flowers and dry them yourself.
- Milk: Both dairy and non-dairy milk work for this tea. In this recipe, we used almond milk.
- Maple syrup: We used maple syrup as a white sugar replacement. You can balance the amount to how sweet you want it.
- Filtered water: Avoid chlorinated or straight tap water as it may alter the sweet taste.
- Vanilla extract (3-5 drops): This is an optional ingredient if you want a delicate flavor of vanilla to make the tea more soothing.
- Black tea: We recommend using tea bags rather than loose tea leaves.
Equipment
- Stove
- Small saucepan
- Two large coffee mugs
- Mixing spoon
- Fine mesh sieve or tea infuser
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Take ½ cup water in a small saucepan. Add maple syrup, vanilla extract, and dried lavender buds, and bring it to a boil. Leave for a couple more minutes with the flame on.
Step 2: Pour the boiling lavender water into a large mug. Make sure you strain the dried leaves using a fine mesh sieve or tea infuser. Add the black tea bag and let them steep for around 5 minutes.
Step 3: In a separate mug, add warm milk and use a milk frother to get an extra creamy texture. If you don’t want your tea to be foamy, simply skip this step.
Step 4: Take out the tea bags and mix the frothed milk with the steeped tea. Stir the lavender milk mixture till it makes a uniform color.
Step 5: Garnish the drink with whipped cream, lavender buds, shredded almonds, mint leaves, or whatever you like.
Recipe Notes
- Remember, edible lavender is not the same as the fresh lavender plant found in nurseries. The latter may have added pesticides. So, ensure you buy it from a food items section.
- You can use lavender buds per taste, depending on how flavorful you want the drink. Don’t overplay it, as it may taste soapy.
- You can replace sugar or maple syrup with stevia or a similar sugar-free substitute.
- The drink might separate after a while; it’s normal. All you have to do is stir the drink once in a while.
- If you can’t find lavender buds, you may use lavender syrup.
What Does Lavender Milk Tea Taste Like?
Lavender milk tea tastes like a floral hot drink with a thick milky texture. If you use earl gray as the base tea, it will taste more aromatic and slightly sweet.
What to Top Lavender Milk Tea
Although this lavender tea recipe is sufficient to take your tastebuds on a flavorful trip, adding the right toppings will make it look more presentable.
Some of the things you can use as toppings include:
- Cinnamon sticks or cinnamon powder
- Mint leaves
- Whipped cream
- Tiny lavender buds
- Shredded almonds
- Chocolate syrup
- Coffee powder
- Cold lavender foam
Substitute Ingredients
Are you falling short on one or more ingredients? Don’t delay your desire to make it. You can use substitute ingredients for the missing ingredients. Don’t worry; the tea will still taste great.
• Replace Maple Syrup with Honey
Missing maple syrup should not cause you to cancel your tea-making schedule. Organic honey is a similar-tasting and just as sweet ingredient to complete your list. You can also use brown sugar to add natural sweetness.
• Replace Almond Milk with Coconut Milk
If you don’t want to use almond milk while staying in the vegan section, coconut milk is a great option. It makes the tea frothy but with a creamier coconut flavor.
Another popular substitute for almond milk in lavender tea recipes is oat milk or soy milk. Else, you can use whole milk anytime.
• Replace Black Tea with English Breakfast Tea
English breakfast tea is not far from black tea in terms of taste. In fact, it is a combination of different black teas. You can also use Earl Gray tea, except that it will have a slightly aromatic taste.
Other Lavender Tea Recipes
Lavender tea has some fun derivatives. These drinks involve the addition or replacement of one or more ingredients to the classic lavender milk tea.
Lavender Bubble Tea
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that purple bubble tea is as popular as purple milk tea. The added boba (tapioca balls) make the drink more filling and enjoyable.
You can get boba from any Asian store nearby. They may look too dry to chew at first, but once you cook them, they are chewy and smooth.
To make lavender boba tea, place the boba in water and let it boil for a few minutes until it softens. For accurate cooking time and temperature, follow the packet instructions.
Put these soft tapioca balls and ice cubes in a tall glass and pour the prepared lavender milk tea into it. This milk tea recipe is great for a boost of energy or to enjoy with your friends on a hot day.
Lavender Earl Grey Tea Latte
This drink is not very different from the current recipe. The only significant variation is the use of earl gray tea bags instead of regular tea. Earl gray is simply black tea with added bergamot oil. It has a stronger flavor and a more floral smell.
You can froth warm milk if you would like a hot lavender tea latte on cold nights. Similarly, using ice cubes and cold milk will make a refreshing drink for the summer heat.
What to Serve with Lavender Milk Tea
This herbal tea is a complete recipe that provides both flavor and comfort. The hot, creamy lavender latte warms you in the cold, while the iced lavender milk tea calms your senses on a humid day. Yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t serve it with a side dish.
Many drinks or dishes pair well with this tea recipe. Some of our favorites include:
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Croissants and baguette
- Donuts
- Cinnamon rolls
- Caramel waffles
- French fries or potato wedges
How to Store Lavender Tea
Whether hot or cold, this tea tastes better when it’s fresh. But if you want to store it for later, you can also do so. Simply pour the prepared tea into an airtight container. Now, leave it in the refrigerator until the next use.
Remember to consume it within 1-2 days, or it may not taste good. Also, the drink components will separate after some time. So, stir and warm it on a stove before serving it again.
Health Benefits of Lavender Milk Tea
Lavender is not preferred only for its sweet aroma and taste. It also has some potent health benefits, including its use in herbal medicine.
Lavender works wonders for mental health. This plant-based ingredient has a calming effect on the nerves. Research
finds it to be pretty effective for anxiety, mood disorders, and depression. Lavender tea has been found to boost the efficacy of antidepressants.
Using lavender essential oils in aromatherapy is not new. When inhaled, this plant provides a feeling of calmness all over the body, promoting sleep. Lavender therapy is also linked to reducing menstrual cramps.
If we talk specifically about this recipe, it offers all the above health benefits of lavender with extra ones from boba and milk. The recipe is gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and dairy-free and makes a soothing drink for both summer and winter.
Does Lavender Milk Tea Help You Sleep?
Lavender is famous for promoting sleep and relaxation. Many studies find a positive effect of lavender oil on sleep. Using it in aromatherapy may help patients with insomnia.
Lavender milk tea has also been found to produce a calming sensation for a good night’s sleep. Lavender contains chemical compounds such as linalool and linalyl acetate, which are mild sedatives.
Who Should Not Drink Lavender Tea
Pregnant or lactating women should use lavender tea only after consulting with their doctor. People with an acute infection should also avoid drinking it.
Beware, people with chronic illnesses like heart disease or hypertension should consult their doctors before trying herbal teas.
Conclusion
Lavender milk tea is easy to make. Following this recipe, you will be able to make this flavorful tea in 5-10 minutes. You can drink it by itself or serve it with snacks.
Lavender milk tea makes an exceptional all-season drink when prepared right. The sweet lavender flavor merged perfectly with a strong black tea to make an ideal hot beverage for the evening. You can also drink it before bed and let it soothe your mind to sleep.
Drinking lavender tea has many health benefits in the long run. Its calming effect makes it easier to fall asleep, eases anxiety and depression, and may help with mood disorders. Moreover, iced lavender milk tea makes an excellent drink for hot days.