Caramel Milk Tea

Create tea house-quality caramel milk tea in the comfort of your own home with this sweet and refreshing recipe. It delivers the perfect combination of rich caramel, creamy oat milk, and bold black tea. Enjoy it with or without tapioca pearls!

Why you'll love this recipe

• Easy to make: This recipe is ready in 3 simple steps and made with easy-to-find ingredients. It’s great for beginners wanting to prepare delicious milk tea at home.
• Customizable: You can adjust the sweetness level, use different milk alternatives, or serve it with or without boba, depending on your preferences.
• Allergen-friendly: This caramel milk tea recipe is made with vegan caramel sauce and oat milk. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free, so virtually everyone can join in on the fun!
• Refreshing: The combination of crushed ice and cold black tea makes this drink the ideal choice on hot summer days.

What is caramel milk tea?

Originating from the popular Taiwanese bubble tea culture, caramel milk tea is a sweeter, more decadent variation of classic milk tea or jasmine milk tea. The addition of vegan caramel sauce adds a rich flavor that complements black tea unbelievably well!

The tea is steeped and combined with crushed ice, oat milk, and caramel sauce, creating a creamy and indulgent drink that also happens to be incredibly refreshing. Whether you think you like them or not, you have to try your milk tea with tapioca pearls (or boba) at least once to experience their uniquely chewy texture!

Once tossed in brown sugar syrup, they’re sweet, tender, and strangely addicting. Serve your caramel milk tea boba ice-cold with a bubble tea straw to experience the full spectrum of flavors and textures.

Is bubble tea vegan?

Originally, bubble tea and milk tea recipes were made solely with dairy-based milk. However, with the growing popularity of this beverage, you can find plant-based milk choices at most tea houses nowadays.

This caramel milk tea boba recipe is completely vegan as written, thanks to the use of dairy-free caramel sauce and oat milk. These substitutions keep the drink suitable for everyone, and I promise you won’t need to compromise on flavor or texture!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Boba: These chewy tapioca balls add a chewy textural component to milk tea. You can substitute tapioca pearls with popping boba or fruit jelly, or omit them altogether.
• Brown sugar syrup: Adds sweetness and depth of flavor to the boba. You can use simple syrup or maple syrup as alternatives to brown sugar syrup if you prefer.
• Black tea: Provides a strong, robust flavor base for caramel milk tea boba. If you have access, use loose-leaf black tea. For a caffeine-free option, use decaffeinated black tea or rooibos tea.
• Caramel sauce: Adds a rich, indulgent sweetness to the drink. Make your own vegan caramel sauce or use your favorite store-bought dairy-free caramel.
• Oat milk: I suggest oat milk as a creamy, dairy-free alternative as it complements the tea and caramel flavors well. Feel free to use other plant-based milk, like cashew or soy.

How to make caramel milk tea

• Step 1: Steep the black tea for 5 minutes in boiling hot water. Once the tea is done steeping, strain it and let it cool completely.

• Step 2: Cook the tapioca pearls in a pot of boiling water until they float to the top, then drain them and toss them in the brown sugar syrup.

• Step 3: Assemble your caramel milk tea by adding a scoop of boba first, followed by crushed ice, black tea, oat milk, and a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce on top.

What to serve with caramel milk tea

This caramel milk tea recipe is quite an indulgent treat on its own, but if you want to take it up a notch, try some of these toppings:

• Oat milk whipped cream
• Crushed cookies
• A sprinkle of cinnamon or cardamom
• Dark chocolate shavings
• Shredded coconut
• Fresh or dried fruits like dates

Storage

Bubble tea is best consumed right away for the most ideal flavor and boba texture. If you have a little extra milk tea leftover, here’s what to do:

• Fridge: Store the fully prepared caramel milk tea in the fridge for up to 1-2 days. If possible, strain the tapioca pearls out and keep them in a separate container.
• Freezer: You can freeze caramel milk tea without boba in ice cube trays to chill your next batch. I don’t recommend freezing the pearls as it will affect their texture too much.
• Prep ahead: Feel free to steep the tea and cook the boba ahead of time, then store them in the refrigerator until you're ready to assemble the drink. I suggest keeping boba in the fridge for a maximum of 1-2 days.

Variations

• Coffee: Replace black tea with brewed coffee for a bolder flavor.
• Matcha: Use matcha instead of black tea to create a unique combination.
• Chai: Swap black tea for chai tea to prepare a warm and spicy version.
• Milk tea float: Add a scoop of your favorite ice cream for a milk tea ice cream float.
• Chocolate: Add a tablespoon of chocolate sauce for a rich and decadent twist.

Top tips

• Use quality tea: Use good-quality loose-leaf or tea bags for a rich, full-bodied flavor.
• Adjust the sweetness: You can adjust the brown sugar syrup and vegan caramel sauce to suit your preferences.
• Cool the tea: Ensure the black tea is completely cooled before assembling the caramel milk tea to avoid melting the ice.
• Stir before serving: Stir the drink well before sipping it. This will evenly distribute the caramel sauce and oat milk.
• Bubble tea straw: Use a wide-mouthed straw to slurp up the boba pearls and milk tea at the same time.
• Don't overcook: Keep an eye on the boba pearls, as they can quickly become mushy. They are done as soon as they float in boiling water.
• Drink immediately: Enjoy your caramel milk tea boba right away for the best taste and texture.

FAQ

More drink recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, take a peek at some more tea-based drinks like these: 

• Jasmine Milk Tea: A light and refreshing tea with floral flavors. 
• Lychee Bubble Tea: Creamy bubble tea infused with sweet, fruity, tropical notes. 
• Matcha Chai Latte: A chai and matcha fusion of flavors that works perfectly!
• Oat Milk Chai Latte: A sweet, spicy, and comforting drink made with dairy-free milk.