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Why choose between coffee or tea when you can easily have both? This Hong Kong Style Yuanyang Coffee Milk Tea blends the two staple beverages into a tasty drink sure to give you a caffeine kick. Enjoy it hot or on ice!
The term “Yuanyang” (also called yuenyeung in Cantonese) translates to “Mandarin duck”, and if you look up a photo, you’ll notice the male and female are quite different. Like the mandarin ducks, this drink combines two elements that stand very distinctly on their own to create a beautiful pairing.
It’s sweet, it’s creamy. This harmonious combination of the coffee and tea makes it a great option if you’re feeling indecisive, or just want to try a twist on your favorite daily drink.
What is Coffee Milk Tea?
It’s exactly what it sounds like – coffee and milk tea combined into one!
Black tea is brewed directly in milk with sugar, then combined with brewed coffee. Optional boba pearls can be added to the recipe, which works hot or cold.
Ingredients & Substitutes
- Coffee: Brewed coffee works best. Alternatively, you can use the instant coffee mix.
- Milk: Use whole milk for a creamier milk tea, but you can use whatever milk you have on hand
- Tea Bag: Traditional coffee milk tea uses black tea.
- Sugar: Use regular granulated sugar, simple syrup or honey.
You can add optional boba pearls to your drink. If you’d like to serve it cold, you’ll also need some ice.
How to Make Coffee Milk Tea
Step 1: Make the Milk Tea
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add milk, tea bag, and sugar.
- Stir to let the sugar dissolve, and cook until the milk is steaming. Remove the teabag, and let it cool down.
Step 2: Make the coffee
- Make coffee and let it cool to room temperature.
- Optional: cook tapioca pearls if you’d like to add boba to your drink
Step 3: Make coffee milk tea
- Pour the milk tea into the glass, and then add coffee. Serve and enjoy immediately. (You’ll need to add some ice if you’d like to serve it cold.)
Tips & Tricks
- You can use more or less coffee to your own liking.
- Taste and adjust the amount of sugar for the perfect subtle touch. Start with little sugar, and gradually add more.
- Feel free to serve this beverage cold or hot.
What’s the Best Tea to Use For This Recipe?
Traditionally, Coffee Milk Tea is made using black tea as the flavor complements the coffee nicely. You can use either loose leaf tea or a tea bag.
Coffee Milk Tea with Boba
If a drink with both coffee and tea wasn’t exciting enough, this recipe goes great with boba pearls, which can be added when hot or cold. We love this brand that can be made in only 5 minutes. They don’t keep very well once cooked, so only make the amount you intend to consume.
Hot or Iced Coffee Milk Tea
Coffee Milk Tea can easily be enjoyed hot or cold. For a cold drink, cool both the coffee and milk tea to room temperature before adding ice. And to enjoy it warm, simply mix the two before they have cooled.
Milk Tea to Coffee Ratio
This recipe uses an equal ratio of coffee and milk tea, but that’s just a starting point. Are you a coffee aficionado? Try less tea, more coffee for a slight hint of something different. Love a creamy drink? Add just a shot of espresso to your milk tea, instead of a full brewed cup of coffee.
What Does Coffee Milk Tea Taste Like?
The best part of Coffee Milk Tea is that you can truly taste each component. It’s sugary, it’s milky and it has distinct notes of both coffee and tea.
If You Like This Recipe Try These Drinks Out
If you tried this recipe, let me know how your Coffee Milk Tea turns out in the comments below!
Coffee Milk Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup brewed coffee
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tea bag
- 2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)
- ice
- tapioca pearls (optional )
Instructions
- Make the Milk Tea: In a saucepan over medium heat, add milk, tea bag, and sugar.
- Stir to let the sugar dissolve. Cook until the milk is steaming.
- Remove the tea bag, and transfer the milk tea to a container. Let it cool to room temperature and then chill in the refrigerator.
- Make the coffee, and let it cool to room temperature. Store in the refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Fill a glass halfway with ice.
- Pour the milk tea into the glass, and then add coffee. Serve and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- To make hot coffee milk tea: Mix the hot milk tea and coffee. Serve immediately.
- To make boba coffee milk tea: Bring the water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add tapioca pearls. Cook for about 5 minutes or until soft. Add the cooked pearls to the glass before adding ice.
Katie says
I have friends that are obsessed with this! It’s a great way to start the morning.
Diana says
What a great-sounding drink. I’m excited to try both hot and cold versions.