Ginger Milk Tea | Cozy Brown Sugar Home Recipe

On the day I created my first ginger milk tea, I was walking around on a gray New York day; the color of the sky looked like used water from an old dish and my radiator was making sounds as if it had an opinion.

It was very chilly outside and I was quite annoyed, so when I wanted something warm and non-boring, I thought of this recipe.

This simple homemade Ginger Milk Tea is a combination of Black Tea, warm milk & fresh ginger. It has a soothing and smooth creamy taste and a nice subtle spicy aftertaste.

This recipe is perfect for those long cold winter nights and great as a natural boost at any time.

The best part about this recipe is that it takes just a few minutes to prepare, and you can enjoy your Ginger Milk Tea either hot or chilled; and if you would like, you can even add some Boba Pearls to the drink!

Here’s everything you’ll need to make it at home.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Simple, cozy, and easy to locate – nothing fancy here, just the basics that really help with the flavor.

The fresh ginger, good quality black tea, and a bit of brown sugar are the basic ingredients to create a warm and inviting base; while the few simple tools I listed below will make the process easier.

I have included some links to some of the tools I personally use and recommend (they’re inexpensive and can add to your bubble tea setup at home) and feel free to use what you currently have. This recipe was intended to be flexible, low-stress and easy to follow.

Base Tea

Optional Add-Ins

What you will need in the kitchen:

Right now, as you are finishing up the preparation and your kitchen is all set up with everything you need, a calm and peaceful silence begins to fill your kitchen. The scent of fresh ginger wafts softly upwards reminding you to take things slowly; the gentle hissing of the kettle sets the pace.

While making this simple homemade ginger milk tea is going to provide you with a great tasting beverage, I feel it is much more than that.

A small ceremony is what I see when using these three simple ingredients (black tea, brown sugar, and warm milk) to create a soothing, creamy cup that allows you to step back and move away from what may be weighing you down for a little while.

Within 15 minutes, you’ll have a comforting beverage to enjoy in the comfort of your own home, one soothing sip at a time.

How to Make Ginger Milk Tea

Step One – Prepare the ginger

Prepare the ginger by removing the skin from the ginger and cutting it into very thin coins. Add the ginger slices and the ½ cup of water to a small saucepan and put the saucepan over medium heat.

Bring the water to a boil; then reduce the heat and allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 – 7 minutes.

During the simmer process, the warm, spicy aroma of the ginger should infuse the water – this is the beginning of your ginger milk tea.

Step Two – Add and steep the black tea

Add and steep the black tea. After the ginger has infused the water for the appropriate time, shut down the heat. Place your black tea bag (or loose leaf tea in a strainer or tea infuser) into the hot ginger water.

Allow the tea to steep for approximately 3 – 4 minutes based upon how much strength you want your tea to have. Less time will produce a milder, less robust flavor, and slightly more time will result in a stronger, more full-bodied taste.

Remove the tea bag or strainer once the desired steep time is reached and set aside.

Step Three – Gently warm the milk

Gently warm the milk. As the tea steeps, prepare the 1 cup of milk in a separate small pot or in a microwave safe container. You want the milk to be hot, yet not boiling (boiling may change the flavor and consistency).

If using the stovetop, use low heat and stir frequently until the milk reaches the proper temperature. If using the microwave, heat the milk in short increments and check/stir the milk in-between heating until the milk reaches the desired comfort level.

Step Four – Strain, sweeten and build the base

Strain, sweeten and build the base. Once you have finished steeping the ginger tea, carefully pour the liquid into your preferred mug to capture the ginger slices and loose tea.

With the liquid still warm, mix in 1 – 2 tsp of brown sugar, starting with the lesser amount and adding more to taste for a sweeter tea.

Stir until all of the brown sugar dissolves in the ginger-infused tea. At this point the warm and comfortable brown sugar quality is evident in the tea.

Step Five – Add the milk and adjust to taste

Add the milk and adjust to taste. Gradually pour the warmed milk into the mug with the sweetened ginger tea, stirring gently as you do to ensure everything is well combined and smooth.

After tasting the tea, make any adjustments as necessary (i.e., add additional brown sugar for more sweetness, or a little additional milk for a lighter and creamier tea). This is when you get to customize the tea to fit your liking.

Step Six – Optional:

Optional: Add Boba to transform into a bubble tea version of ginger milk tea. If you would like to create a ginger milk boba tea, follow the package instructions to cook the tapioca pearls.

Once the pearls are cooked and still warm, toss with some brown sugar syrup (about 1 – 2 tsp) to help retain their softness and light sweetness.

Pour the cooked and softened bobas into the bottom of your mug before pouring in the ginger milk tea, or gently combine the bobas with the tea after the tea has cooled slightly.

Adding the boba gives the tea a fun, chewy texture and transforms the experience into something a little more special.

Step Seven – Serve and enjoy one soothing sip at a time

Serve and enjoy one soothing sip at a time. At this point your ginger milk tea is prepared and ready to be enjoyed.

Find a peaceful area, wrap your hands around the warm mug, and savor each sip of the soothing and creamy blend of fresh ginger, black tea, brown sugar and warm milk created a tea experience that provides an opportunity to slow down and breathe especially on chilly evenings or any time you need a moment to escape and recharge.

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Variations & Substitutions

This Ginger Milk Tea recipe has an abundance of positive attributes in terms of ease of preparation.

The few simple changes one can make will easily create a change in the overall flavor or texture of the beverage based upon personal preference (mood) or availability of ingredients.

This warm beverage is adaptable to all preferences including dairy-free milk, a stronger “kick” of ginger, or less sweetening.

Milk alternatives:

Omit the whole milk and substitute with oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk. Oat milk will give you a creamier consistency than the other alternatives.

Sweetener options:

Replace the brown sugar with honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar for a different type of sweetness. Each sweetener option will add a new layer of flavor to your beverage.

Variety of teas:

Instead of using a traditional black tea try using an Assam, Ceylon, or even decaf black tea if you are trying to avoid caffeine. If you would like a more herbal flavor use green tea, or rooibos.

Add extra spice:

Add a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, or clove to give your Ginger Milk Tea a chai inspired flavor.

Iced version:

Allow the tea to cool then pour it over ice and top with milk for a refreshing summer drink.

Regardless of the way you choose to prepare the Ginger Milk Tea, the combination of ginger, milk and warmth is what creates a sense of comfort when sipping this beverage.

It’s simple enough to be enjoyed every day yet special enough to create a sense of ritual with each consumption.

Storage & Reheating Tips

You can enjoy the Ginger Milk Tea at its best right away, or you can save some of the leftover for another time if you’re using all of it up or making a second cup in advance.

To keep your ginger milk tea safe while you store it, and when you do reheat it to enjoy again, you need to store and reheat the ginger milk tea safely and gently so that it retains its creamy texture and warming flavor of ginger.

Storage:

Once your ginger milk tea has cooled down to room temperature, pour it into an airtight container or jar and refrigerate it for up to 2 days.

Reheating on the Stovetop:

Pour the ginger milk tea into a small sauce pan, and slowly warm it over low heat by gently stirring every now and again until it’s warmed through. Try not to let it boil as this can affect how it tastes and feels.

Reheating in the Microwave:

Place the ginger milk tea into a microwave-safe mug, and warm it in short bursts while stirring between each interval until the tea is heated to the temperature you prefer.

Boba Note:

Tapioca pearls (boba) should be consumed immediately after being cooked. They tend to become harder as they sit. Therefore, if you plan on saving your tea for later, separate the boba from the tea, and cook a new batch of boba when you are ready to serve.

If you handle your Ginger Milk Tea with care, it will still be a soothing, comforting drink even when you’ve reheated it.

Ginger Milk Tea FAQ

If you loved this cozy Ginger Milk Tea, you might also enjoy these warm bubble tea recipes and tools from The Boba Club:

• Peppermint Taro Bubble Tea – a festive, minty winter twist with creamy taro and peppermint.
• Apple Cider Chai Bubble Tea – cozy apple cider meets spiced chai and boba.
• Gingerbread Brown Sugar Milk Tea – all the gingerbread, brown sugar, holiday-mug vibes.
• Bubble Tea Nutrition Calculator (BobaCal) – plug in your favorite order and see the calories in a few taps.
• Pumpkin Chai Bubble Tea – a cozy pumpkin spice and chai combo you can sip all season long.

When you take a cup of Ginger Milk Tea into your hands there is a feeling as if time has slowed down for a moment. The sensation of the warm milk, the spice, the gentle flow of creating the tea – it all can feel like the exhale you had no idea you needed.

Whether you are drinking it straight from the pot or softly warming it up later, I hope it helps you take a deep breath, step back, and appreciate whatever is in front of you – sip by sip.