Many, many years ago, there was an overwhelming boom of boba cafes that opened in Southern California. It was a new trend. It's been several years but they are still just as popular now. The best boba spot will not only have chewy, sweet, perfectly cooked tapioca but great drinks to go with it. I have the usual drinks that I order, such as matcha tea and taro smoothie, but nowadays, my go-to drink is rose milk tea. The beverage has a slight floral hint with a beautiful pink tint and just the right amount of sweetness. After I purchased rosewater syrup last week for another recipe, I knew I had to make the tea at home. Now I can make my own batch at home anytime I want!
Rose Milk Tea
Ingredients
- ½ cup small tapioca pearls
- 16 oz hot water
- 1 teaspoon black tea leaves
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon rose water syrup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Soak tapioca pearls in cold water for 30 minutes. Drain. Boil 4 cups of water in a medium pot. Remove from heat and add tapioca pearls, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Bloom tea leaves in the hot water in a large cup. Let sit for 10 minutes. Add milk, rose water syrup, and sugar, adding more sugar for a sweeter drink. Add ice for chilled rose milk tea or serve warm. Divide tapioca pearls into two cups and pour in rose milk tea. Serve.
**Helpful tips and common mistakes
Rose milk tea is originally made from rose petals - yes, rose petals! They can be a bit difficult to find and it isn't exactly ideal to dry your own rose petals, so I chose to use rosewater syrup instead. The flavor is more potent so you only need a small amount per drink.
I had small tapioca pearls lying around so I decided to add these to my drink. You can add boba instead or just have the rose milk tea as is.
To prepare the tapioca pearls, soak them in water for 30 minutes. You can choose to add 1 tablespoon sugar to the water if you want a sweeter beverage. Make sure not to soak for any longer than 30 minutes or else the tapioca will become mushy.
After the tapioca is cooked, you can see the difference in texture and color. They now have a chew factor and are translucent. If you are preparing bigger tapioca pearls, they will take much longer to cook. The best way to tell if they are ready is to give them a taste. Soft and chewy? Then they're ready!
Since I didn't have rose petals, I used black tea as the base; you can also use green tea instead. The beverage tasted exactly like the rose milk tea I purchase at boba shops - success! Now I can have my rose milk tea every day!
For more drink inspiration check out this watermelon kiwi agua fresca!
Mary Frances
This milk tea looks so refreshing. I've never had milk tea with rosewater in it before but it sounds heavenly!
cma0425
It's a unique combination but very addicting once you have it!
LISA SHUMATE
Where does one purchase tapioca pearls?
cma0425
They sell them at Whole Foods or any Asian market should have them
Jenny
Where do you get the rosewater syrup?
cma0425
I found mine at whole foods but if you're in Southern California, they also have them at Ralphs
Matharo
I made this, and it is so good! Thank you for sharing the recipe! I found these rose milk tea bags at the Asian market which I love, but they are so pricy 🙁 I'm glad I can now make my own, plus, the rose water I found was a super good price 😀
Though is your rose water colored? Mine is clear, and my milk tea just looks like regular, brown milk tea lol
cma0425
I used rose syrup which has that pink tint to it, but I'm sure the tea tasted better with the actual tea bags!
Matharo
I didn't see that you replied until now! But thank you for replying! Now I'm going to hunt for some rose syrup 🙂
•‿•
This recipe looks great! I am doing something for school and i will use the recipe! Ty
Cherry on My Sundae
I hope you enjoy it!
Teddy Gotsch
In the description you sat rosewater syrup, but in the recipe you say plain rosewater. I assume you mean the syrup, how much of the sugar syrup to use?
Cherry on My Sundae
Sorry for the confusion, yes it's rosewater syrup. It's 1/4 teaspoon per serving or 1/2 teaspoon for 2 servings. I recommend starting at 1/4 teaspoon and adjusting the amount depending on the brand you use. Some syrups have a stronger rose flavor than others.