Learn how to make rose milk tea with boba in under 15 minutes! We’ll show you how to make this delicious creamy fragrant beverage using rosebuds. Alternatively, if you’re short on time, follow our recipe using store-bought syrup instead. Both methods are equally tasty.
Also, we’ll show you how to make homemade rose syrup and a caffeine-free version of this drink.
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Taste
Rose milk tea is a creamy, fragrant yet refreshing drink. The combination of rose and milk gives this drink a subtle floral taste and a smooth, rich feel in the mouth. Tea specialists such as Fortnum and Mason, Jing Tea, and Whittard sell their own bespoke rose tea blends.
Where is it from?
As bubble tea continues to take over the world by the storm, we are seeing more creative boba tea flavours. Previously there has been a craze over the taro fresh milk, cheese tea, and more recently brown sugar milk tea. However, brewing in the background is a flavour that is regaining its popularity with the mass. This flavour is rose milk tea.
Infusing rosebuds into beverages is a practice that has been around since 141- 87 BC. One of the first recordings of rose-infused drink was during the Han Dynasty China. In ancient Persia, or modern-day Iran, this was more famously used to make rose water.
Syrup vs Dried Rosebuds
A lot of recipes online will say to use either rose syrup or the dried flower for this drink. Here is the difference between using syrup and the dried flower.
Rose syrup will give the drink a concentrated floral flavour and added sweetness. Some brands may add food colouring to the syrup. This will result in a brighter pink drink. However, as the syrup is premade, you can not control the level of sweetness and intensity of the rose flavour.
For those who prefer a more subtle floral taste, rose syrup should be used in moderation. This is also the reason why some people dislike rose milk tea. Making your own homemade syrup is a good way around premade syrups that are too sweet. It can also give your boba pearls more flavour if you cook these in the syrup.
Infusing dried rosebuds or hibiscus petals with black tea can give the drink a concentrated or subtle floral taste. This will allow you to choose how much of the dried flower you would like. Besides, you will be able to customise the level of sweetness of the drink by adding sugar later.
That being said, rose syrup is still a great alternative to freshly steeping the dried flower for this beverage. This is especially the case when you’re short on time. Both options can be bought in most ethnic stores and are also readily available online.
Dry Rosebuds vs Rose Petals vs Hibiscus Petals
You will see most places selling either dry rosebuds, flower petals or hibiscus petals. There is very little difference in taste between the dried bud and petals of the flower. Typically the flower petals are more readily available and cheaper than flower buds. As it is in its loose form, the petals are easier to infuse into the black tea. For aesthetic purposes, you can choose either one.
Hibiscus petals are not the same as rose petals. This is a different flower and will give you a citrusy and fruity taste. Therefore, it may not go very well with the floral and creamy rose milk tea. Use sparingly if you want to use it as a natural food colouring in this drink.
Rose Milk Tea using Dried Rosebuds
Ingredients
- 4 dried rosebuds adjust to taste
- 2 tsp oolong tea can use another black tea
- 400 ml milk can use oat milk instead or creamer
- 3 tbsp tapioca boba pearls and sugar optional
- 2 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water. Add the flower buds to the boiled water. Allow this to brew for 5-8 minutes. For a stronger flavour, allow this to brew for longer or add more dried buds.
- Meanwhile, add the tapioca pearls with 3 tsp sugar to a pot of hot water and boil for 5 minutes. Alternatively, until the boba pearls begin to float above the water.
- Add the oolong tea to the same pot. Let this brew together for an additional 2-3 minutes before adding 2 tsp sugar.
- Pour in the milk and let this sit for a while.
- Remove the loose leaves and flower buds. Then add the tapioca pearls
- Decorate with rose petals from the buds and serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and are only rough estimations.
Rose Milk Tea using Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp rose syrup adjust to taste
- 2 tsp oolong tea can use another black tea
- 400 ml milk can use oat milk instead
- 3 tbsp boba or tapioca pearls optional
- 3 tsp sugar optional
Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water in a small pot. Add the tapioca pearls and 3 tsp sugar. Let them sit for 5 minutes. Alternatively, until the boba pearls begin to float above the water.
- Boil 2 cups of water and add your oolong tea with rose syrup. Brew for 3-5 minutes.
- Pour in the milk and let this sit for a while.
- Remove the tea and add the tapioca pearls.
- Finally, decorate with rose petals and serve the bubble tea hot. Alternatively, let the creamy floral tea cool. Then, add ice to serve chilled.
Notes
Nutrition
Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and are only rough estimations.
How to Make Homemade Rose Syrup
Making a sweet floral syrup at home is relatively easy and only requires a few ingredients. You will need the following:
- 250 ml water
- 6 tbsp of rose petals or loose flower buds
- 1 cup sugar
Method
- Bring the water to a boil in a pot and add the rose petals.
- Allow the petals to simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
- Incorporate the sugar in parts to adjust to taste. Depending on how strong you want the floral taste, add more dried flower petals or reduce the time it simmers for.
- Turn off the heat and leave to cool.
Notes
The consistency of the syrup should be slightly thick. It should be enough to coat a spoon but still runny. We strongly recommend incorporating the sugar in parts rather than adding it in one go. This will allow you to adjust for the sweetness of the syrup.
The homemade syrup will be able to last in the fridge for up to 2 months and can be used for a variety of different recipes. Pour it over panna cotta, cheesecake, or make rose latte, puddings, milkshakes and cocktails with it. The syrup can also be used to cook alongside the boba pearls beforehand assembling the drink.
Top Tips
The milk used in the rose milk tea can be substituted with plant-based milk. However, we found that oat milk works best to keep the creaminess of the drink. Alternatively, use soy milk or cashew milk.
Avoid steeping the oolong tea and rosebuds together at the same time. This is because the flower buds will take longer to release flavour. Meanwhile, steeping black oolong for too long will give you a bitter taste. This isn't desirable.
For better presentation, froth the milk and save a little of it to top off the drink. Serve this in a tall glass to see the slight colour change.
If you want a stronger pink hue in the drink, hibiscus petals can be used as a natural food colouring. However, as the flower carries a natural citrus taste, make sure to use it sparingly.
You can also use whipped cream and flower petal in powdered form as garnish.
Rose Milk Tea Variations To Try
There are a few recommended variations we would suggest. These are our top recommendations.
- For a very subtle floral taste without added sweetness, use rose water.
- Try adding a shot of Bailey's in this drink to make a cocktail.
- Make your own rose-infused tapioca pearls
- Experiment with a different kind of black tea such as Earl Grey, Ceylon or Assam. Or even try another type!
- Add soaked chia seeds, strawberries, coffee jelly or popping lychee boba. These will make a great alternative boba tea toppings.
- Let the tea and chia seed sit overnight. This will make an overnight rose milk tea chia seed pudding.
Health Benefits
Not only is this a delicious drink, but it also has some health benefits! Rosebuds are used in Chinese traditional medicine for their health benefits. According to studies, consuming rose tea can have the following benefits.
- Aid Weight loss
- Antioxidants
- Menstrual Pain Relief
As our recipe adds black oolong tea, the drink is no longer caffeine-free. To fully reap the benefits of the rosebuds’ property to aid weight loss, don’t add excessive amounts of sugar to your beverage.
Strawberry Rose Milk
To make a caffeine-free version of rose milk tea, try making this. You will need 3 cups of strawberries, 600ml of milk and 3 tbsp of tapioca pearls. In addition, prepare 4-6 dried rose buds and 2 tsp sugar. You will not be using oolong tea.
Start by making your boba pearls. Boil these in hot water with 2 tsp sugar and wait until they rise to the top of the water. Secondly, brew the dried flower buds in 2 cups of hot water and mix well with the sugar.
In the meantime, blend the strawberries and milk together. Add the hot drink mixture and blend for another 30 seconds. Add the boba pearls and serve cold. Top with optional whipped cream and rose petals as garnish.
Let us know if you tried this recipe and tag us on Instagram to show us your creations! Happy boba tea making!
Yuya
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I love this so much! 😍
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