Deeply rooted in Taiwanese Asian culture, tiger milk tea is a sweet and smooth blend of iced milk, muscovado caramel, dark brown sugar, syrup, and gummy dark boba tapioca pearls.
Tiger milk tea is known for having a distinctive yet alluring look. Its name is derived from the tiger-like stripes
formed on the sides of the bubble tea by the brown sugar syrup after preparation.
Tiger milk tea is quite popular and is prepared differently depending on the location. This drink can also be made with different ingredients, which affect the naming of the beverage. Depending on the country, tiger milk tea is also called tiger sugar milk tea, dirty boba, green tiger milk tea, mud flip tea, tiger milk boba, and so on.
Where Did Tiger Milk Tea Come From?
Tiger milk tea made its debut in Taiwan in 2017 in a dessert and tea shop called Tiger Sugar. It was referred to as brown sugar milk tea since it only uses milk, muscovado sugar, and tapioca pearls.
The messy look or “tiger stripes” caused by smearing brown sugar syrup on the cup has become popular in many countries. Hence, it became famous as tiger milk tea. Since then, it has dynamically made its way to the Western world with its deliciousness and pretty aesthetics.
Other Names of Tiger Milk Tea
- Tiger boba tea or tiger boba: Mostly used in the US.
- Brown sugar pearl tea: Mostly used in China and Taiwan. Brown sugar syrup is the key ingredient.
- Black tiger milk tea: Black tea bags are used.
- Black sugar milk tea: Black sugar is used.
How Does Tiger Milk Tea Taste?
Tiger milk tea tastes like regular bubble tea, but the sugar affects the flavor. It is best to use the muscovado unrefined sugar to achieve that caramelized syrup that dominates the tiger boba tea’s taste.
There’s also an aftertaste of typical bubble teas thanks to the dark tapioca pearls. Generally, tiger boba tea is delicious and has a soft and smooth texture.
The caramelized sugar syrup does a great deal in terms of taste. Tiger boba tea taste resembles a rich iced creamy tea with a strong yet sweet caramel flavor.
Ingredients in Tiger Boba Tea
Tiger milk tea contains anything but real tea. It is composed of creamy iced milk, brown sugar syrup made from muscovado sugar, and dark tapioca pearls.
- Black Tapioca Pearls: Many milk tea shops use boba or pearls to prepare a wide range of boba tea. The boba pearls used in making traditional tiger milk tea are called Tapioca pearls. These are gummy and chewy seeds that add flavor to the beverage. They are usually dark brown or black.
- Brown Sugar Syrup: The caramel sugar syrup makes the signature tiger stripes of the drink. You can make your homemade caramel brown syrup by melting your muscovado or brown sugar over low heat while adding water subsequently to form a thick but not too thick caramel brown sugar syrup. You can also get ready-made syrup from your local supermarket.
- Whole Milk: This completes your tiger milk boba. You can use either plant-based or whole cow’s milk. Either way, it makes the drink creamy and rich in proteins. Furthermore, you can make Tiger boba tea with soy or oat milk.
How to Prepare Homemade Tiger Milk Tea
Tiger milk tea may look difficult to prepare, but it’s one of the easiest beverages to prepare.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make your favorite rich iced milk tea, here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to do so.
Step 1: Gather the Necessary Ingredients to Prepare Your Tiger Milk Tea.
- Muscovado brown sugar: 1 to 2 teaspoons to add more flavor.
- Milk: 2 cups of whole milk or plant-based milk will be fine. As long as it’s tasty and creamy.
- Cream: Adding extra cream to your milk tea isn’t compulsory but if you want that extra smooth taste, you can add it to your tiger boba tea.
- Tapioca pearls: Prepare half cup of tapioca pearls. Making homemade tapioca pearls can be difficult as the dough is very sticky and can be time-consuming. So, go with the ready-made tapioca pearls.
- Water: 5 cups of water to cook the dark sugar tapioca pearls.
- Ice cubes: 1 cup
Step 2: Get Ready to Prepare Your Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup.
Add water to the sugar in a nonstick pot over low heat till the mixture starts bubbling. Stir the mixture until it turns brown and sticky. You will be done with the entire process within five minutes.
Step 3: Boil the Tapioca Pearls.
Next, boil the tapioca pearls in five cups of water over medium heat for five to ten minutes, or until the dark boba pearls are gummy and chewy. After that, add the pearls to the sugar syrup.
Boil the syrup and pearl mix over low heat for a little while so it can absorb the syrup’s sweetness. Leave it to cool when done.
Step 4: Assembling Tiger Boba Tea Into the Glass.
Prepare and set aside the whipped cream to produce a foamy and smooth texture.
Place the tall glass or cup at a 45 degrees angle. Use a clean teaspoon to drop many tapioca boba pearls at the base of the cup. Randomly smear some sugar syrup on the cup sides.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!
Add a few ice cubes and pour iced milk into the glass. Put your smooth whipped cream for extra cream into your drink. Serve chilled with a cute boba straw.
How to Get Long Tiger Stripes in Your Tiger Boba
Getting the signature tiger stripes on your tiger boba is one of the most crucial parts of preparing a tiger boba. People often make the mistake of adding the iced milk immediately after smearing the brown sugar syrup on the cup sides. After doing so, the stripes dissolve in the iced milk and fade. What’s a tiger boba if there are no stripes?
Here’s a trick to creating long-lasting tiger stripes for your tiger milk tea.
- Place the tapioca pearls by the rim of the glass, so they slowly roll downwards to the bottom. Doing so allows them to make vertical stripes along the glass.
- Repeat the process slowly on all sides of the glass.
- Next, leave the glass to rest for 3 minutes. During this time, the brown syrup solidifies and sticks to the glass walls to prevent it from dissolving when you pour the milk into the glass!
Delicious Substitutes for the Traditional Ingredients of Tiger Milk Tea
If you’re adventurous and want to switch it up, you can substitute some of the ingredients. And if you love its unique taste, you can use your new way of making tiger milk tea.
• Use Green Tea in Place of Black Tea
A new and super healthy way of making tiger milk tea is by using green tea. Green tea provides multiple health benefits and adds extra spice to your drink.
• Add Fruit Juices or Purees to Your Tiger Milk Tea
Another delicious way of spicing up your tiger milk tea is by adding fruit juice. This helps to make your milk tea more healthy and fruity. Mango and strawberry purees are great flavors to add to your milk tea.
• Slushie Style
Another creative and refreshing way is by turning your tiger milk bubble tea into a cold slushie. Blend ice with your tiger milk tea and enjoy. However, do not blend the tapioca boba with it.
• Use Vanilla or Almond Milk in Place of Whole Cow’s Milk
This is the vegan way of making tiger milk tea. To add more sweetness to your tiger bubble tea, use vanilla or almond milk.
Can I Make Vegan Tiger Milk Tea?
To make a cup of vegan tiger milk tea, switch whole milk to plant-based milk like almond milk or soy milk. Plant milk is unsweetened and flavorless compared to whole cow milk. Other great options are cashew nut milk and oat milk.
Why Make Your Own Tiger Boba Tea Recipe
- Change the flavor to your liking: This tiger milk bubble tea recipe follows the traditional recipe from the original Taiwanese milk tea. The drink is also identical in taste to the original tiger milk tea. However, you can add or substitute the ingredients as you like.
- Easy to prepare. In 10 to 20 minutes, you can make homemade tiger milk tea.
- Cheaper: Preparing your homemade tiger milk bubble tea helps you save more than buying from cafes and milk tea shops. Most shops sell tiger milk tea for between $4-8. If you want additional ingredients, you would have to pay extra. Making yours at home is going to cost way less than that.
How to Preserve and Serve Tiger Milk Tea
You can refrigerate tiger milk tea for three days after preparation. Store the prepared tiger milk tea in a sealed cup or container and keep it in the fridge. Make and keep the tapioca pearls separately from the tea to retain their freshness.
Tiger milk tea is best served chilled. After taking it out of the fridge, put ice into a glass, smear the brown sugar syrup by the sides of the glass for the stripes effect, add the tapioca pearls, and add the milk tea.
Benefits of Drinking Tiger Milk Tea
Tiger milk tea is known for having a splendid taste and aroma. There are also claims that tiger milk tea significantly increases energy levels, but there are no scientifically proven reports to defend these claims.
Tiger bubble tea is a healthier alternative to soft drinks and diet sodas. So if you are looking for an energizing mid-day drink or a chilled beverage to get through a sunny day, tiger milk tea is great for you.
Is Caffeine Present in Tiger Milk Tea?
Caffeine is not present in tiger boba tea. The ingredients used in preparing tiger boba tea do not contain caffeine. The ingredients used for tiger milk tea are milk, caramelized sugar syrup, and dark boba pearls.
Can Children Take Tiger Milk Tea?
Of course. Children, teenagers, and adults can take tiger milk tea occasionally. It is perfectly safe for children’s health when consumed in moderation.
Difference Between Tiger Milk Tea and Brown Sugar Boba Tea
Both iced teas have similar flavors and methods of preparation. You can make these drinks with rich iced milk, caramel sugar syrup, and chewy tapioca pearls. The only difference between these two is that tiger milk tea’s appearance is more distinctive than brown sugar milk tea.
Sugar syrup is added to the glass walls to create the drink’s famous tiger stripes. On the other hand, brown sugar boba tea does not have any unique syrup embellishment. The syrup is directly added to the bubble tea drink.
Furthermore, authentic tiger milk tea has smooth whipped cream at the top, adding a creamy texture to the drink. Brown sugar milk tea does not have whipped cream.
Difference Between Tiger Milk Tea and Thai Tea
Tiger milk tea is made from milk, dark tapioca boba, and brown sugar syrup. This drink earned its name from the tiger stripes made when you smeared brown sugar syrup on the sides of the cup.
Thai tea is made from black tea bags and milk. It has a deeper and stronger tea flavor compared to tiger milk tea. Flavored spices like star anise, orange blossom, and cloves are also present in Thai tea. Moreover, you can sweeten it with condensed milk and full-fat milk.
It all comes down to personal taste when choosing between tiger milk tea, brown boba tea, and Thai tea. For those with a sweet tooth, the ideal option may be tiger milk tea. You might prefer Thai iced tea if you like a stronger tea taste.
Conclusion
There you have it! A complete review of the tiger milk tea recipe, some facts about tiger milk tea boba, and some questions about tiger milk tea. Tiger milk tea is a delicious beverage when you want to enjoy an iced chilled beverage and take gram-worthy pictures of your sumptuous homemade tiger milk tea.