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This refreshing, iced lavender milk tea with boba is the perfect pick-me-up or feel-good treat! Earl Grey tea is infused with lavender leaves, then topped with almond milk and ice. Naturally vegan and gluten free!
The scent of lavender is one of my all time favorites - it's floral, refreshing, slightly sweet but also has some bitter notes to it. Which is why, when I realized I could steep fresh lavender to create a lavender latte, I couldn't wait to experiment with this herb in my kitchen!
Lavender boba tea is easy to make at home and budget-friendly too. All you have to do is steep the tea with dried lavender flower petals, cook the pearls, and then assemble!
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My favorite way to drink lavender lattes is over ice with chewy tapioca pearls. The flavor opportunities are endless, but nothing quite matches the floral and citrus combo of lavender and Earl Grey!
If you're not a fan of bubble tea, this lavender tea recipe tastes just as good piping hot. Simply pour the hot tea into mugs and top with your choice of milk.
If you've never tried a cup of lavender tea, you're in for a treat. It's great in the morning or as a mid-afternoon pick me up too!
👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Health experts agree lavender has a calming effect
- Lavender imparts a delicate flavor
- Easy to customize
- Wonderful remedy for stress
- Refreshing and sweet
- Extra creamy texture
- Made with fresh lavender flowers
- Vegan and gluten free!
🥘 Ingredients
This is the best lavender milk tea recipe, and you only need 5 ingredients!
Earl Grey Tea Bags: Loose tea leaves work too, but must be strained through a fine mesh sieve. Feel free to use your favorite brand of black tea.
Tapioca Pearls: Tapioca pearls are lightly sweetened, chewy balls made from tapioca starch. Find boba pearls at your local Asian grocery store or online.
Brown Sugar: Brown sugar creates a sweet syrup to soak the pearls in.
Dried Lavender Flowers: Dried lavender buds impart plenty of lavender flavor! Find them online or at a well-stocked specialty foods store. Just don't go overboard with them, or the lavender milk taste may take on a soapy quality. If you can't find them, use a lavender tea bag instead.
Almond Milk & Ice: Unsweetened almond milk has a mild and creamy texture. Any plant based milk will work (see variations below!) Ice cubes help to chill your lavender boba milk tea.
📖 Variations
- Tea: Swap the Earl Grey tea with any tea blend you like! English Breakfast, white tea, or herbal tea are great options. Try mango, strawberry, apricot, or Honeybush flavored teas.
- Different Kinds Of Milk: Any kind of milk can be used. Whole milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or soy milk are delicious options. For a rich, creamy taste use creamer or non-dairy creamer.
- Lavender Chamomile Tea With Milk: Swap the Earl Grey tea with chamomile. Pour the hot steeped tea into glasses and top with your choice of milk. This is a great option if you'd like a natural sedative to help you sleep.
- Sweetener: Add maple syrup, light agave, honey, coconut sugar, brown sugar, or white sugar to sweeten the tea. It's best to sweeten the tea while it's still hot so it dissolves.
- Vanilla Extract: Add a 1/2 teaspoon for a hint of vanilla!
- Lavender London Fog Recipe: Steep the lavender and tea as directed. Heat and froth warm milk of your choice. Pour the hot tea into two glasses and top with frothed milk. Sweeten with honey or maple syrup. This hot beverage is perfect for cool weather!
🔪 Instructions
Simmer Water: Simmer 2 cups of water in a small saucepan, then remove it from the heat.
Steep Tea: Place the loose lavender leaves into a tea infuser and into the hot water along with the tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes.
Let Tea Cool: Remove the tea bags and infuser. Let the tea cool to room temperature. Cook Tapioca Pearls: While the tea cools, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the tapioca pearls, reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes.
Strain Boba: Strain the pearls, add to a small bowl, and stir in the brown sugar. Set aside and cool completely.
Add Boba First: Evenly divide the tapioca pearls and syrup between two glasses.
Make Lavender Bubble Tea: Top each tall glass with ice, steeped black lavender tea, and almond milk.
Serve: Stir and serve immediately.
❓ Recipe FAQs
What is milk tea?
Milk tea is any tea-based drink, hot or cold, with milk added to it. Tea lattes, bubble teas, and hot teas with milk are all types of milk tea. In this recipe, we are referring to bubble tea. Bubble tea is an iced drink with tea, milk, sweetener, and tapioca pearls.
What does lavender milk tea taste like?
This lavender tea drink has subtle floral notes from the use of lavender and notes of bergamot and orange from the Earl Grey.
What are the health benefits of lavender tea with milk?
Lavender from the Lavandula Angustifolia plant is an alternative medicine used for anxiety and stress that relaxes the nervous system. It has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce pain and ailments. The lavender plant features plant compounds like flavonoids that act as antioxidants. Lavender oil can help relieve headaches too.
How many calories in iced lavender milk tea?
One cup of this tea is 129 calories. This includes the milk, tapioca pearls, and sweetener. If you decide to divide this recipe into just 2 servings, then each glass will have about 194 calories.
💭 Expert Tips
- For quicker assembly, make the tea ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to use.
- If you like a sweeter lavender tea milk, stir in maple syrup, simple syrup, or light agave. If you like sugar or honey, add it to the tea while it's still hot so it dissolves properly.
- Homemade lavender tea is far better than lavender milk tea powder! It's a combination of instant black tea powder, sugar, and lavender flavoring. I like to control the quality of ingredients and the amount of sugar in my drink!
- For a stronger flavor, steep the tea for an extra minute or two.
