Milk tea is a deliciously sweet drink and a creamy treat that’s loved by many. But what if you don’t want the boba tapioca pearls? You don’t have to use them! In fact, original milk tea didn’t actually include boba – this was a tradition that came later on.
With just a few simple ingredients and steps, anyone can make their own delicious cup of non-boba milk tea.
Brewing up a steaming hot cup of non-boba milk tea is easy as pie—no need to worry about complicated instructions here.
All that’s required is boiling water, adding the desired amount of tea bags or loose leaf tea leaves into a teapot or strainer, pouring in the hot water over the leaves while they steep, then stirring in some type of sweetener, and finally topping off with your favorite kind of dairy (or non-dairy) milk.
In minutes flat you’ll have yourself a tasty beverage worthy of any cafe menu!
What Is Milk Tea?
Milk tea is a popular beverage that combines tea with whole milk and a sweetener. It can be made with either black, green, or oolong tea bags or loose-leaf tea. To make iced milk tea, one needs to steep two tea bags in hot water, allow them to cool, and then add ice cubes before refrigerating the brewed tea.
For room-temperature milk tea, one should steep two tea bags in a cup of heated water and let it cool down to room temperature before adding any dairy products.
The type of milk used will determine the flavor of the drink. Options range from soy milk or almond milks to condensed milk. Honey or other sweeteners may also be added depending on preference.
What are boba?
Boba pearls are small, chewy tapioca pearls made from tapioca starch. They are often added to milk teas and other beverages as a fun and unique addition.
Boba was originally a Taiwanese tradition but quickly became popular across Asia and in other parts of the world. They are usually boiled and then soaked in a sweet syrup or sugar water to give them a slightly sweet taste.
The boba provide a contrasting texture to the creamy and smooth milk tea and they can come in a variety of flavors and colors.
In addition to the texture and flavor, adding boba to milk tea has become a popular trend in recent years due to its aesthetic appeal. The boba pearls float in the drink and create a visually appealing “tiger stripe” effect.
Whether you love them or hate them, you can easily make milk tea with or without them according to your preference.
Benefits Of Drinking Milk Tea
Drinking milk tea has many health benefits. Milk tea is a delicious and nutritious beverage that can be made at home with a few simple ingredients. Not only does it contain the antioxidants found in black, green, or oolong teas, but also provides calcium and protein from the addition of dairy products like cow’s milk.
The caffeine content also helps reduce fatigue and improve concentration. Making your own version of this popular drink allows you to control what ingredients go into it by customizing each batch according to your individual preferences.
Types Of Teas To Use
For those looking for something traditional and comforting, English Breakfast tea is always an excellent choice. It has a robust flavor and full-bodied aroma that pairs perfectly with creamy dairy or plant-based milks.
Oolong tea, which originates in China, offers an incredibly smooth taste and fragrant smell that adds depth to any drink. Jasmine tea can provide a sweet floral finish when combined with other ingredients.
Lastly, Earl Grey brings out citrus notes for an added zestiness that will tantalize your taste buds. With so many options available, you can easily craft the perfect cup of iced tea without boba!
Different Types Of Milks
When making milk tea without boba, you have many different types of milk to choose from. Dairy milk is the most traditional option and can be used in combination with heavy cream for a richer flavor.
Almond milk is a great plant-based alternative that works well when added to any type of tea. Oat milk is also an excellent choice, as it adds sweetness and texture to your drink. Really, any dairy or plant based milk is great in your tea.
For those who want something even more luxurious, try using heavy cream instead of regular dairy or almond milk – it will give your tea a unique creamy taste! Finally, adding some ice cubes at the end will cool down your beverage and make it extra refreshing.
Sweeteners And Flavorings
Moving on from the different types of milk, let’s discuss sweeteners and flavorings for milk tea. Depending on your desired sweetness level you can use white sugar, maple syrup, or brown sugar syrup when making a traditional cup of milk tea.
Sweeteners
If you’d like to use syrup but don’t have any to hand, you can easily make your own simple syrup for boba tea. All you need is equal parts of water and sugar.
Start by heating up the water in a small saucepan on the stove. Once the water comes to a rolling boil, add the sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 5-10 minutes until it thickens and becomes syrupy. Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool completely. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
You can also use homemade brown sugar syrup, or any range of store-bought sweeteners to sweeten your milk tea.
Flavors
The most popular bubble tea flavors are classic milk tea and taro milk tea but fruit flavors such as strawberry milk tea and mango milk tea are fun and delicious variations. You can make these by adding fresh fruits like mango juice or strawberry puree for a healthy bubble tea.
Raspberry or passionfruit syrups or purees are also popular options for a fruity tea-based drink.
Adding a drop or two of vanilla or almond extract can give your boba milk tea a warm, comforting flavor. Or for a rich and decadent boba milk tea, you can add caramel or chocolate sauce to create a deliciously dessert-like drink.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Do you want to make the perfect boba tea, but you don’t have any boba? Don’t worry! You can still get that bubble tea fix without those pesky little balls. Here’s how:
Step 1: Brew your Tea
First, grab a small saucepan and fill it with about 12 ounces of water. Bring the water to medium-high heat in a saucepan on your stovetop or in the microwave for about 3 minutes.
Add two tablespoons of strong tea leaves (or use teabags) and steep them in the hot water for 5-7 minutes.
Step 2: Add Milk
Once done, add milk – about one part milk to three parts liquid is ideal – and stir until combined. And voila – you’ve just made yourself a delicious cup of milk tea! No bubbles necessary.
Step 3: Add Sweetener & Flavorings
If you like your drinks sweet, stir in simple syrup, sugar, or any other type of sweetener.
This recipe is simple enough to whip up anytime you’re feeling like having some bubble tea. Plus, you can customize it however you’d like by adding different flavors or sweeteners such as honey or syrup. So go ahead and give it a try – who knows, maybe this no-boba version will become your favorite bubble tea recipe!
Favorite Milk Tea Recipes
Here are some of the most loved milk tea recipes. Anywhere a recipe calls for boba, you can leave it out if you please. And any cold milk tea can be made hot and visa versa!
Either way you’ll end up with a delicious hot or cold, creamy and delicious milk tea you made yourself.
- Cinammon and Vanilla Milk Tea
- Strawberry Milk Boba Tea
- Chocolate Milk Bubble Tea
- Tiger Milk Tea
- Jasmine Milk Tea with Honey Boba
- Taro Bubble Tea
- Bubble Tea 101
- A Tea Lover’s Guide to Bubble Tea
- Delicious Boba Tea Flavors to Try
Milk tea without Boba is just as delicious!
Milk tea is a tasty and versatile beverage that can be enjoyed without boba. If you’re looking to indulge in something sweet, there are endless possibilities for making this delicious drink without the added calories from chewy tapioca balls. Plus, it’s easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients!
What’s more, making your own milk tea allows you to choose exactly how much sugar and other flavorings you want to add. This way, you can tailor the drink to your tastes while still enjoying its benefits of being rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
According to recent studies, drinking two cups of green tea per day can lower one’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease by up to 10%. Try experimenting with different types of teas such as green or black when crafting your homemade milk tea without boba—you might even find yourself reaping some serious health benefits!