Description
This Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea is a cozy, aromatic beverage that combines the warmth of cinnamon with the smoothness of vanilla, creating a perfect balance of flavors. It’s a delightful tea-based drink that’s sweetened with honey or your favorite sweetener, and can be served either hot or cold for a refreshing twist. Whether you’re looking to unwind on a cold day or enjoy a flavorful iced treat, this milk tea has you covered.
Ingredients
2 cups water
2 cups milk (dairy or plant-based)
4 cinnamon sticks or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 vanilla beans, split and scraped, or 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 star anises (optional)
4 tsp loose-leaf black tea or 4 black tea bags (optional)
Honey or other sweetener of choice (sugar or a sugar substitute)
Instructions
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small pot.
- If using cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans: Add them to the pot once the water has boiled. Turn off the heat, cover with a lid, and let it steep for about 10 minutes. If using ground cinnamon and vanilla extract: Simply add them to the boiling water (no need to steep, so you can skip the next step). If using star anise: Add it to the pot during the steeping step along with the cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans.
- If you prefer tea in your milk tea, add the black tea to the pot during the steeping process and brew for an additional 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
- In a separate pot, heat 2 cups of milk until it’s warm, but not boiling.
- Pour the cinnamon-vanilla infusion through a strainer into the warm milk to combine them, ensuring no solids from the cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, or star anise get into your drink.
- Add your sweetener of choice to taste, stirring until fully dissolved.
- Hot Version: Serve it warm right away. Iced Version: Let it cool, then serve over ice for a refreshing twist.
Notes
- Use plant-based milk like almond, coconut, or oat milk to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Add a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom for extra spice and flavor.
- Brew the tea and let it chill in the refrigerator, then serve it over ice for a cold, refreshing drink.
- Besides honey, you can use maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar substitute to fit your dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Steeping, Heating
- Cuisine: American, Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
