You might be wondering why oolong milk tea is so popular right now. That is because it is absolutely delicious and deviates from the tea we are used to. So why not learn how to make it? This sweet treat is delicious hot or cold, with many variations, and if you have tried it, you are addicted, and if you are new to it, you will never be the same.
Oolong milk tea recipes require a little more time than regular tea. But since the tea is not “normal,” the time is justified. The main ingredients of oolong teas are loose-leaf tea/tea bags and brown sugar syrup. Better to call these the chief ingredients of oolong tea.
Whether you have oolong tea bags or loose-leaf tea, we provide recipes for both. Don’t worry; this post won’t bore you because there is much more than recipes.
Oolong Milk Tea; What’s So Special?
Everyone is aware of green and black tea. If you don’t know, black and green tea is made with the help of Camellia Sinensis. Likewise, this same leaf is the producer of oolong tea leaves. So if someone tells you that oolong and black tea are the same, do believe them.
Surprisingly, many of us mispronounce oolong. How? Well, if you look at the word, our pronunciation is acceptable, but since this tea originates from China, there needs to be some Wu sound. The correct pronunciation is Wu-lung.
Leaving this topic, oolong milk tea is just another form of milk tea but a bit sweeter and creamy. Oolong tea comes as hot or cold tea. However, most people in the US are only aware of its cold variation. You can see tapioca pearls in the tea and other things. But the original recipe is free of any extras.
You can only get in touch with the specialty of this tea by drinking it. We thoroughly recommend having first-hand experience with this tea to appreciate it fully. Your experience can vary depending on whether you drink oolong milk tea hot or cold.
Oolong Milk Tea Recipe
Before we move forward, you should know that not all bubble tea shops sell authentic oolong tea. So, if you have a bad taste on your tongue, it is better to let it go because the original recipe is a bit different.
In this section, the recipe for oolong tea will be free of boba. Why? Because the authentic recipe never had it in the first place. Moreover, boba tea sort of takes away the real taste of oolong tea. It just becomes a sugary drink.
Ingredients
Before making something, it is better to list the ingredients so you do not run short of anything. So here, we will list all the oolong tea ingredients before describing the process of making it.
- Oolong tea leaves/tea bags (4 tablespoon/2 bags)
- Water (10 oz)
- Milk (1/3 of water)
- Brown sugar syrup/brown sugar/sweetener of choice
These are all the ingredients that you require to make authentic oolong tea.
Procedure
- The first step involves taking out the saucepan and filling it with water.
- Put the saucepan on the stove and heat it on a medium-low flame.
- Continue this process until the water reaches 180 F.
- Now put in the oolong tea leaves/bags and allow them to simmer.
- While the tea is making or after, you can warm the milk. Take care to prevent boiling or scalding. Gently warm it up. And this is a beautiful way to incorporate ingredients like cocoa powder, which only dissolves in extremely hot liquids.
- Add the brown sugar syrup/brown sugar/sweetener of choice to the milk. Pour your milk and the oolong tea into a cup.
The Final Show
Now that your tea is ready, you can serve it and decide what your toppings will be. Add ice cubes to your oolong milk tea if you want to drink something chilly. If not, drink the tea without waiting any longer.
Oolong Bubble Tea
Another variation for oolong milk tea is adding Boba to it. Generally, people prefer using store-bought tapioca pearls. Why? Because they require less time and effort. Milk teas are now commonly made with Boba.
Now that you know the authentic recipe for oolong milk tea, we can move on to a more modern take, i.e., boba oolong milk tea.
Recipe Intro
If you enjoy novelty drinks and exciting textures, making boba oolong milk tea may take a little longer, but it is worth it. Purchasing already-made black tapioca pearls can significantly reduce the time it takes to make boba tea. This milk tea recipe makes enough for two cups.
Ingredients
The ingredients for oolong milk tea were only four. However, in the case of boba oolong milk tea, the list of ingredients is pretty long.
- Water (10 oz for tea)
- Oolong tea leaves (4 tablespoons or two tea bags)
- Honey (3 tablespoons)
- Tapioca pearls (1 cup)
- Water (16 oz for tapioca)
- Milk (1.5 cups)
- Blocks of ice
Place all the ingredients on the counter of your kitchen.
Procedure
One should prepare tapioca pearls according to the directions on the box. Once they have reached the top, strain them and place them in a sink of cool running water.
You must use one cup of hot water to steep the tea for about 10 minutes. Now you must strain the tea into tall cups.
Pour in the chilled milk, honey, and ice on top. Now that your tapioca pearls are cool add two tablespoons per glass. Throw in a straw and enjoy your drink.
Final Verdict
Although oolong milk tea without Boba is authentic and tastes fantastic, Boba adds a bit of premium touch to the drink. So if you want something different, boba oolong milk tea is a great option.
Oolong Milk Tea Taste
Oolong milk tea has a great sweet taste. You get hints of coffee, but the drink is totally different from it. It’s like a floral garden is in your mouth with honey bees delivering free honey without doing any damage. A little weird explanation, but the sweetness cannot be explained otherwise.
Most Oolong bubble teas are light and fragrant, with a floral undertone. Because it contains brown sugar, oolong milk tea is delightful. But if you add too much sugar, the taste of the tea will not be as great.
So to achieve the perfect taste, everything must be in specific quantities.
Oolong Milk Tea Types
There are various types of oolong milk teas available. For leaves, you get oxidized and roasted leaves. As for the drink, there are several variations, but we cannot list all of them here. Like this example shows, two types of oolong milk tea exist. One is the authentic recipe, while the other is the one with Boba.
Oolong Milk Tea Calorie Count
The calorie count of oolong milk tea depends on what goes inside the tea. For example, oolong milk tea with and without Boba has a different calorie count. Similarly, adding extra cream to the drink will increase the calorie count.
Changing the sweetener type will also affect your drink’s calorie count. However, a typical oolong tea has around 80 to 100 calories per cup. It’s worth noting that an oolong milk tea in America with all the additions has a calorie count of 600.
This calorie count can increase if you add more ingredients. So if you are not in the mood to ruin your diet, making your own tea is better than buying it from your local store.
Oolong Tea Benefits
The first question you should ask yourself before drinking a 16-ounce glass of tea is whether oolong milk tea is healthy. Oolong milk tea is a pretty healthy tea. However, the kind of variations we Americans have brought to it snatches away the healthy tea title.
According to studies, the polyphenols in oolong tea help lower blood sugars. Diabetes and other health conditions, such as obesity, are significant risk factors for high blood sugar and insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not correctly use blood sugars.
Oolong tea contains a lot of L-theanine, an amino acid shown in studies to improve brain activity and sleep quality and lower anxiety and stress levels. Furthermore, the antioxidants in oolong tea have brain-protective properties that might also aid in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, wherein parts of the nervous system quit functioning. Scientists are continuing to investigate the tea’s potential for preventing diseases that cause mental declines, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Oolong Tea Better With or Without Milk?
Surprisingly, you can make oolong tea with or without milk. However, we prefer not to go for the latter. Why? The tea is supposed to be made with milk. But just like coffee and black tea, you can change the flavor by playing the milk game.
One benefit of excluding milk from the recipe is low calories. So if you want to stay within your calorie count, exclude the milk. But it is better to keep this as your cheat day drink and take full advantage of it.
However, milk oolong tea tastes better and is a better option considering the health factor. These tea leaves are pretty strong and can cause adverse effects if taken without milk. A study shows that a specific intake of simple oolong tea is pretty bad for your health.
However, some studies explain why we should not add milk to oolong tea. So this way or that, you will have to keep your intake as low as possible.
Oolong Tea Fun Facts
- Oolong milk tea is rapidly gaining fame all across the US. It is now on the list of the most famous teas in the US.
- If you compare oolong milk tea with coffee, it has half the concentration of caffeine.
- Oolong milk tea is named after its founder Wu Liang.
- The Wuyi Mountains are where oolong tea was first produced and cultivated. The writings of the Qing Dynasty are the source of this concept.
- Because of its unknown origins, the drink was considered exotic and primarily consumed as homeopathy.
All of the above facts are generally believed to be accurate. However, as we know, history is not infallible, is subject to embellishment, and may be rife with inaccuracies. That means there are variations in the statements we have made above. Yet they are widely received as factual.
Conclusion
Oolong milk tea is a classic tea, and everyone we know who has tasted it loves it. From several variations to a simple recipe, this tea has everything. There are different ways to make oolong milk tea as the leaves come in two forms, i.e., roasted and oxidized. Both leaves work the same way, but the taste differs a bit.
So if you want a slightly smoky taste, roasted leaves are your best friend. In case you don’t, the latter will help your taste buds. Boba and simple oolong milk tea have no comparison. Both taste the same but are somehow precisely different.
Both recipes are great. So choose whichever one you like.
