Earl grey milk tea is such a classic, and it’s even better with sweet, chewy tapioca pearls! This is a great introduction to bubble tea if you’ve never had it before, and the strong tea with creamy milk and sugar is an unbeatable combination.

Getting milk tea outside can be expensive, at $7 a pop, but it’s super cheap to make at home. Save your money and use this recipe to recreate your favorite bubble tea flavor at home easily!

Here’s how to make a delicious Earl Grey milk tea with boba at home!

What is Bubble Milk Tea?

Bubble milk tea, or boba or pearl milk tea, is a sweet and creamy drink that combines tea (usually black, oolong, or green), milk, a sweetener, and chewy tapioca pearls. These pearls, made from tapioca starch, have a distinct soft, gummy, or “QQ” texture that makes the drink fun to enjoy. Originating in Taiwan during the 1980s, bubble tea gets its name from the round tapioca pearls that look like bubbles!

The exact origins of bubble tea are hotly debated, with both the Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan and Chun Shui Tang Teahouse in Taichung claiming credit for its creation. Regardless of who started it, the sweet drink quickly became a beloved staple across Taiwan, evolving into countless variations featuring fruit flavors, popping boba, and even slushy textures. It’s more than just a beverage; it’s a lifestyle now!

Bubble tea came to the United States in the 1990s through Taiwanese immigrants, especially in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Initially popular within the Taiwanese-American community, the drink’s unique textures and customizable options caught on with a broader audience. Today, bubble tea shops are a global phenomenon, bringing a slice of Taiwanese culture to people everywhere.

What is Earl Grey Tea?

Earl Grey tea is a classic black tea infused with bergamot oil from the rind of bergamot oranges. This gives the tea its distinct floral, citrusy aroma and slightly sweet, tangy flavor. Unlike plain black tea, Earl Grey has a lightness and complexity that makes it one of the most recognizable flavored teas in the world.

The tea’s origin story is tied to British tea culture and is said to be named after Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey and British Prime Minister in the 1830s. While the exact details are unclear, one legend claims that a Chinese tea master gifted the recipe to Grey after he saved his life. Earl Grey quickly became popular in England, cementing its place in afternoon tea traditions.

Today, Earl Grey comes in many variations, including Lady Grey, which is lighter and infused with citrus peels, and Cream Earl Grey, which adds vanilla for a richer flavor.

It’s a versatile tea, often enjoyed plain, with milk and sugar, or used as a base for lattes like the ever-popular London Fog.

Is Earl Grey Good in Milk Tea?

Earl Grey is an amazing choice for milk tea! Its floral and citrusy bergamot flavor pairs so well with the creaminess of milk, creating a perfectly balanced drink. The bold black tea base gives it enough strength to shine through the milk, while the bergamot adds a bright, aromatic twist that keeps things interesting.

When you combine Earl Grey with milk, it softens the tea’s slight bitterness and enhances its natural sweetness. It’s no wonder drinks like London Fog lattes—essentially Earl Grey milk tea with vanilla—are so popular. Earl Grey milk tea feels cozy, luxurious, and light all at once, making it perfect for slow mornings or afternoon pick-me-ups.

If you want to try something new, you can experiment with sweeteners like honey or brown sugar to bring out different notes in the tea. You could even add a splash of vanilla or lavender syrup for extra flavor. Trust me, once you try Earl Grey in milk tea, it’ll become a staple in your tea rotation!

How Much Caffeine Does Earl Grey Tea Have?

Earl Grey tea contains a decent amount of caffeine, typically around 40-70 milligrams per cup. This makes it a great middle-to-highground option if you’re looking for a pick-me-up without the intensity of coffee. The caffeine content can vary depending on the specific black tea used as its base and how long you steep it.

Compared to other teas, Earl Grey falls into the black tea category, which has the highest caffeine content. Green tea has the least caffeine, ranging from 20-50 milligrams per cup, followed by oolong tea at 30-55 milligrams per cup, and then black tea, including Earl Grey. So, it’s stronger than green and oolong tea if you need more energy but won’t leave you as jittery as coffee might.

If you’re caffeine-sensitive, Earl Grey is still a good choice because you can control the steeping time or opt for decaffeinated versions. It’s the perfect option when you want to feel energized yet still enjoy a relaxing cup of tea. Plus, the bergamot flavor makes every sip extra flavorful!

Best Earl Grey Tea

When it comes to Earl Grey tea, I don’t have a go-to brand, but one thing I always recommend is going for loose-leaf teas. Loose-leaf teas are generally fresher, more aromatic, and offer a richer flavor than tea bags, which often contain smaller, broken tea leaves or even tea dust. Loose-leaf options allow the tea leaves to expand fully while steeping, giving you a smoother and more robust cup.

Some great options for loose-leaf Earl Grey include blends from reputable tea houses or specialty shops, where you can often find unique variations with higher-quality bergamot oil. For instance, some brands use real bergamot fruit extract rather than artificial flavoring, which makes all the difference in taste. If you’re shopping for Earl Grey, look for teas with whole black tea leaves and a vibrant citrusy aroma.

If loose-leaf isn’t your thing, there are still excellent bagged teas out there. Just check the ingredient list to ensure you’re getting real bergamot and not just “natural flavors.”

How to Make Earl Grey Milk Tea with Boba

Here’s what you’ll need to make Earl Grey milk tea with boba:

• Tapioca pearls
• Honey or sugar
• Milk
• Earl grey tea leaves
• Milk powder, fresh milk, or coffee creamer (like Coffee Mate)
• Ice

Earl Grey Milk Tea with Boba Recipe

1. Boil tapioca pearls. Boil tapioca pearls and water in a medium-sized pot on high heat for 2 minutes, then lower to medium heat, cover, and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes until the tapioca pearls are soft and chewy.
2. Soak pearls. Drain pearls from the liquid. In the same pot, dissolve honey or sugar (or your preferred sweetener) and water and let it come up to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Soak the tapioca pearls in the sweetened syrup for 10-15 minutes or until the pearls taste sweet.
3. Brew Earl Grey tea. Brew Earl Grey tea leaves in a heatproof cup for 3-5 minutes or until the brewed tea tastes strong. Remove tea leaves.
4. Make Earl Grey milk tea. Dissolve sugar and milk powder while the tea is warm. You can do this by stirring with a spoon, using a handheld frother, or using a shaker cup. Add ice and the sweetened milk tea to a shaker cup, then shake until slightly frothy.
5. Assemble drink. Add sweetened boba and chilled Earl Grey milk tea into a separate cup.
6. Mix and enjoy!

Best Sweeteners for Earl Grey Milk Tea

The classic sweetener for any milk tea is regular cane sugar. You can’t go wrong with just white sugar, but other sweeteners work well with Earl Grey tea, too.

• Honey is a personal favorite if you want something floral and slightly earthy. It pairs nicely with the citrusy bergamot and adds depth without overpowering the tea.
• For something lighter and more subtle, agave syrup is a great alternative. It dissolves easily, even in cold drinks, and has a neutral sweetness that blends seamlessly with the creaminess of milk tea.
• If you want indulgence, condensed milk is the way to go. It sweetens and adds creaminess all at once, making your Earl Grey milk tea extra luxurious.
• Brown sugar adds a slight molasses note, creating a richer, more robust sweetness.
• Vanilla syrup enhances the bergamot, bringing out the tea’s natural flavors for a slightly sweeter, aromatic twist. It’s also what makes Earl Grey tea into a London Fog!

Don’t be afraid to mix and match to find your perfect combination!

Tips

Here are some tips for making a delicious Earl Grey milk tea with boba at home!

• Make sure you have large boba straws to enjoy the tea and boba simultaneously. You can get a reusable straw or grab some extra from your local bubble tea store. Otherwise, you can use a spoon to scoop up the tapioca pearls while you drink your Earl Grey milk tea.
• Use instant boba to save time! You can find these in any Asian grocery store; they take 2 minutes to heat in the microwave. You’ll have soft and chewy boba in a fraction of the time it takes to boil it from scratch. Flavor-wise, it does the job, but the texture is not as chewy as the fresh one!