There has been a milk tea boom over the past few years as people of all ages grow to love this refreshing sweet drink. One of the most popular flavors is salted caramel milk tea. The good news is that you can make this irresistibly sweet, salty, and creamy drink yourself!
What Is Salted Caramel Milk Tea?
Caramel is made from melted sugar, so it’s sweet and rich. You can add cream, butter, and other ingredients, thus changing its flavor, color, and consistency.
Salted caramel milk tea is made from milk, tea, and salted caramel flavoring, added as a sauce, syrup, or whipped cream. There are several varieties, like iced or hot, boba or none. You can also add various other toppings, like coconut shavings.
What Does Salted Caramel Milk Tea Taste Like?
Salted caramel, as the name implies, has salt added to contrast the sweetness of the sugar balancing a combination of sweetness, saltiness, and creaminess, with hints of tea flavor.
Salted Caramel Milk Tea Ingredients
Salted caramel milk tea takes less than 20 minutes to make, especially when you have all the ingredients prepped. It’s much quicker if you use a powdered formula, but that’s discouraged because the powder is usually full of preservatives.
Make your own if you want an all-natural salted caramel milk tea! This recipe makes enough for one cup or so of milk tea. Feel free to adjust the amount of each ingredient to your preferences (e.g. add more sauce than tea or milk).
- Milk: You can use many kinds of milk to make milk tea – whole, powdered, full-cream, low-fat, or even plant-based, like almond. Whichever type you use can influence the final taste, so pick according to your preference.
- Brewed Tea (1 cup): Milk tea is commonly made with black tea, but it can be prepared using any type, such as green tea or jasmine. It’s preferable to brew your tea. You’ll need either one tea bag or one teaspoon of tea leaves for one cup of hot water.
- Salted Caramel Sauce/Syrup: You can use pre-made salted caramel sauce or syrup. There are many bottles available in supermarkets, like Ghirardelli or Torani. You can also make your own from scratch, using sugar, butter, cream, and salt. The amount depends on your preferences.
- Salted Caramel Whipped Cream/Froth (Alternative to Sauce or Syrup): If you prefer the actual milk tea to taste like regular caramel milk tea but topped with salted whipped cream, that’s all right, too. To make this flavored topping, you’ll need whipping cream, milk, salt, and caramel syrup.
- Tapioca Pearls/Black Boba: If you are aiming to make salted caramel boba tea, tapioca or boba pearls are a must! You can make them from scratch using tapioca starch, but it’s a hassle. If you want to save time, get good quality pearls instead and add as many as you like.
- Tapioca Pearl/Boba Syrup: You might also want syrup with your pearls to make them sweet! They’re made with brown sugar dissolved in water until you get a thickened syrup. You can also use excess boba syrup for the salted caramel whipped cream.
- Ice: Like boba pearls, ice is optional. It’s good for keeping your milk tea cold but don’t add too much or the drink will dilute over time.
How To Make Salted Caramel Milk Tea
Salted caramel milk tea with syrup is much like how you make caramel milk tea, except the flavoring is salted. The procedure is slightly different if you opt for salted caramel whipped cream instead.
How To Make Salted Caramel Milk Tea With Syrup or Sauce
Here’s how to make salted caramel milk tea using sauce or syrup:
Brew the Tea
Start by brewing your cup of tea. The earlier you do so, the better as the tea has to be cool before combining it with the rest of the ingredients.
To make your cup of tea, boil a cup of water. In a mug or cup, place your tea bag (or leaves). Pour the boiled water into the cup and let the tea steep for three to five minutes. Set aside while steeping.
Cook the Boba Pearls and Syrup
As the tea steeps and cools, cook your boba or tapioca pearls. It’s best to follow packaging directions if there are any. If none, boil the pearls in water at medium heat until they float and are cooked.
Prepare your boba syrup by dissolving brown sugar in hot water. You can also cook the boba pearls in syrup. After the pearls are cooked, take them out of the syrup, place them in cold water, then drain them after a few minutes.
Prepare the Salted Caramel Syrup/Sauce
If you are using a premade salted caramel sauce or syrup, you may skip this step. If not, melt brown sugar in a pan.
Once the brown sugar has melted, add butter and let it melt into the caramelized sugar. Once combined, add the cream or milk then season with salt. You can also use salted butter instead.
Make Caramel Milk
Combine your milk with the prepared caramel sauce. You can also add the milk while making the caramel, as directed above.
Assemble Salted Caramel Milk Tea
Assemble the milk tea elements: boba syrup, tapioca or boba pearls, ice, tea, and salted caramel milk. You can change that order according to your preference. You can also mix all the ingredients afterward.
How to Make Caramel Milk Tea With Salted Caramel Whipped Cream/Froth
Here’s how to make caramel milk tea topped with salted caramel whipped cream or froth:
Brew the Tea
Brew your tea by steeping a tea bag or leaves in a cup full of hot water. This will take three to five minutes then set aside to cool.
Cook the Boba Pearls and Syrup
Boil boba pearls in water or follow packaging directions. You may also cook it in boba syrup, which is made of brown sugar dissolved in water.
If you cooked the pearls in syrup, take them out after cooking then place them in cold water. After a few minutes, drain and set aside.
Prepare Regular Caramel Syrup/Sauce
You can use store-bought caramel syrup or sauce. If not, prepare your own by melting brown sugar in a pan. Add butter and cream or milk.
Make Caramel Milk
Combine the caramel sauce with milk. You can also add the milk while making the caramel to really incorporate the flavor.
Prepare Salted Caramel Whipped Cream/Froth
Combine whipping cream, milk, caramel, and salt in a bowl. You may use a whisk, frother, or any tool to mix the ingredients until the desired consistency is achieved.
Assemble Salted Caramel Milk Tea
Assemble your milk tea such that the salted caramel whipped cream or foam is at the top. If you want, drizzle with salted caramel syrup to accentuate the flavor.
You can also combine the two procedures – make a salted caramel milk tea topped with salted caramel whipped cream or froth. It will be full of intense, rich flavors, so give it a try!
Tips for Making Salted Caramel Milk Tea
If you want extra creamy salted caramel milk tea, skip making the brewed tea. Here’s what you can do instead:
- Prepare your salted caramel milk in a saucepan at low heat so it’s warm but not hot!
- Let the tea bags or leaves steep in the warm milk for three to five minutes.
- After steeping, strain into a glass and add ice and boba pearls.
You can also add the following to make your salted caramel milk tea taste better:
- Whipped cream: If you don’t want a salted caramel whipped cream or foam, you can go for plain or other flavors, like pumpkin spice, vanilla, coffee, or anything you like.
- Jelly cubes: If you don’t like tapioca pearls, you can do without them, or even better – swap them for flavored jelly cubes. You can add those with coffee, tea, or even caramel taste.
- Flavored syrup: You can drizzle more salted caramel syrup into your milk tea or whipped cream topping to highlight the flavor. You can also use other flavored syrups, like chocolate.
- Coconut shaving: Some people enjoy adding coconut shavings to their milk tea, giving it a subtle tropical and sweet flavor.
- Fruit and nuts: Others add bananas, but you can try other fruits and nuts.
- Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, and other similar spices work well with salted caramel flavors.
- Flavored ice cubes: If you want more ice but are scared of watering down your drink, use flavored ice cubes instead. For instance, you can use ice cubes made with tea.
Salted Caramel Milk Tea Nutritional Facts
Here’s an estimate of salted caramel nutritional facts:
- Calories: 317 to 440kcal
- Carbohydrates: 67.5 to 416g
- Total Fat: 4 to 16g
- Protein: 4.6 to 13g
- Cholesterol: 13 to 51mg
- Sodium: 192 to 1151mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 63g
- Vitamin D: 49mg
- Calcium: 160mg
- Potassium: 209mg
These values are estimated from The Flavor Bells and Foodsguy recipes. The actual amount of nutrients you’ll get will vary depending on how you make your milk tea. For instance, if you add more salt, sodium will increase. If you opt for more caramel or sugar, the carbohydrates and sugar levels will rise.
Salted Caramel Milk Tea Benefits
Although many see milk tea as a guilty treat that tips the scales, they offer some benefits.
Energy Boost
The human body’s primary source of energy is carbohydrates, like sugars, as they are the easiest to break down or metabolize, so a certain amount of sugar is essential to keep the body functional and alert every day.
Milk tea contains a lot of sugar, which the body can use as fuel, but avoid drinking too much of it, as extremely high levels of sugar can lead to health issues, like diabetes or obesity.
Stress Relief
Milk tea provides people with relief and relaxation, which explains why a lot of people really enjoy the drink. That’s because it has antidepressant compounds called tryptophan and L-theanine, which enhance the drinker’s mood.
Milk tea also often contains caffeine which, in excess, can offset the advantages of tryptophan and L-theanine. Moderation is crucial to maximizing the antidepressant side effects while minimizing caffeine.
Antioxidants
Tea contains antioxidants called flavonoids, specifically catechins and theaflavins. These compounds combat the harmful effects of free radicals, such as rapid aging, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more.
Flavonoids are especially abundant in green or black tea. To maximize the benefits, use these types in making your salted caramel milk tea.
Other Nutrients
Whereas tea contributes antioxidants, milk provides Vitamin D, protein, and calcium. These nutrients are crucial for body strength, as they keep the skin and bones healthy.
These nutrients can only be advantageous when milk tea is consumed in moderation. Excessive drinking of milk tea can lead to obesity and sugar-related issues, as it is high in sugar. Such effects would outweigh the nutritional benefits you would have gained.
FAQs
Is Caramel Milk Tea Good?
Many find caramel milk tea tastes good and refreshing. It is also good in moderation, as it provides essential nutrients, like carbohydrates, antioxidants, vitamins, calories, and more.
What Makes Milk Tea Creamy?
The type and amount of milk affect how creamy your milk tea will be. You can also opt for additives, like condensed milk, whipped cream, or cream cheese to make the drink taste creamier.
How Is Caramel Made?
A simple caramel can be made by melting brown sugar in low to medium heat until it is liquid and has a rich, golden brown color. You can make caramel with milk, water, cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt to improve the consistency and flavor.
Is It Okay To Mix Tea and Milk Together?
Tea and milk can be mixed, and they are a common combination. You can also steep the tea in warm milk to make your drink creamier, but you must strain out the tea after soaking.
What Is The Most Delicious Flavor of Milk Tea?
Some of the most popular and delicious flavors of milk tea are black, taro, matcha, caramel, strawberry, brown sugar, honeydew, and Thai. The best flavor ultimately depends on a person’s personal preferences.
