Milk and tea is a tested and true combination that has been around for centuries. So whether you’re a fan of classic flavors or just looking to taste something new, milk tea is definitely something that should be on your radar! But there are so many types of milk tea to choose from.
The most popular types of milk tea are: Taiwanese bubble tea, Hong Kong milk tea, Thai iced tea, Indian masala chai, and Japanese green milk tea. A recent favorite is Tea latte, populated by coffee houses. All these teas are made by combining brewed tea, milk, sweeteners, and different toppings.
There is no limit to the kinds of milk tea you can whip up; all you have to do is get creative with your ingredients. And you can make your own unique milk tea—Who knows; you might just create your signature style. But first, let’s break down seven popular types of milk tea and see what they offer.
What is Milk Tea?

Simply put, milk tea is a combination of brewed tea and milk. This combo can be served either hot or cold or even frozen.
Countries worldwide have their own versions of milk tea, often changing the proportion of tea and milk, type of tea, and type of milk to make it their own.
Some places even add traditional flavors and toppings like tapioca pearls (bubbles) in bubble tea or spices in chai tea to give it an extra kick. No matter where it’s from, milk tea is sure to be a hit for your taste buds.
What are the Different Types of Milk Tea?
Almost every corner of the world has its own version of milk tea, and if you’re trying to buy some online to sample a quick Amazon search returns results that vary widely, from Royal Milk Tea designed to be brewed and consumed like traditional hot tea, to this J Way Boba Bubble Milke Tea Kit that includes everything for a boba milk tea mix.
So, let’s first start by briefly covering the different types of milk tea so that you can understand which one you may prefer.
Bubble Tea
Also known as boba tea, bubble tea is a sweet and creamy drink made with black or green tea, milk, and tapioca pearls. It originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and has become a worldwide phenomenon.
Bubble tea is prepared by shaking black tea or green tea base with ice, milk, and a sweetener. It’s then topped with those delicious chewy tapioca pearls that sink to the bottom of the cup.
Finally, the drink is served with a wide straw to slurp the bubbles.
Bubble tea often comes in various flavors, including classics like taro or oolong and more modern flavors like matcha, mango, or tiger milk tea. In addition, you can customize your bubble tea with different toppings and syrups like popping boba, jelly cubes, and more.
Thai Milk Tea
Thai milk tea is recognizable by its signature bright orange color. It’s a creamy blend of Ceylon black tea, sugar, milk, and spices like star anise, cardamom, and tamarind pods. It can be served either hot or cold, with toppings like boba or without.
Traditionally, Thai tea is made with any dairy milk, but many places now use condensed milk to give it a thicker, richer texture.
The star of this drink is Ceylon black tea—a special tea from Sri Lanka that imparts a slightly floral but smoky flavor. It’s also steeped for a long time, at least 30 minutes, to get the dark color and rich flavor.
Green Milk Tea
Green milk tea is another recent trend that combines green tea and milk. It is usually made with Japanese matcha green tea powder, milk, and sweetener. Matcha powder gives the drink a beautiful green color and earthy flavor, and the milk adds creaminess and a light sweetness that balances out the matcha.
Since matcha contains antioxidants, green milk tea is a healthier alternative to traditional bubble teas. However, it’s also high in caffeine content.
Other green tea-based milk teas, like jasmine green tea or hojicha, are also available and offer subtle variations in flavor.
Honeydew Milk Tea
Honeydew milk tea is a unique take on classic milk tea. It’s made by combining honeydew melon puree, tea, and milk, creating a very light and refreshing drink that’s sweet but not too sweet.
Some additional flavors, such as rose, coconut, vanilla, and almond, are often added to give it a more complex taste.
Honeydew milk tea is commonly served with tapioca pearls but can also be served without them. This tea is best enjoyed cold, perfect for summer days.
Masala Chai
Masala chai is a form of spiced milk tea from India. It has been consumed for centuries but recently has become popular worldwide.
This tea is made with a mix of black tea and traditional aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and pepper steeped in water until the desired strength is achieved.
Then you combine equal parts milk and tea brew and add sweeteners, such as honey or brown sugar. The spices give it a delicious flavor that is both warming and invigorating. Masala tea can be enjoyed hot or cold, but traditionally it is served hot.
Hong Kong Milk Tea
Another classic milk tea from Hong Kong, this milk tea is made with black tea and evaporated or condensed milk, giving it a rich and creamy flavor. Some places will add additional ingredients like coffee or oolong tea to give it a more complex flavor profile.
Usually, it’s made with Ceylon black tea, but some high-end places may also serve it with Pu-reh tea, an expensive fermented tea from China. Pu-reh offers a unique sweet and earthy flavor unlike any other type of tea.
Tea Latte
A tea latte combines black or green tea with steamed frothed milk and a sweetener, usually honey, syrup, or sugar. They are a tea twist to cafe lattes and are becoming increasingly popular in coffee shops.
Tea lattes come in various flavor options like matcha, London fog (earl grey tea with vanilla syrup and steamed milk, and chai lattes.
Depending on the type of tea used and the added ingredients, tea lattes can range from subtle to intense and sweet to savory.
What Milk is Typically Used in Milk Tea?

Milk tea is usually made with skim cow’s milk to get a thick creamy consistency of tea. However, you can use any dairy or non-dairy milk, including almond, soy, coconut, or oat milk.
Some people also opt for half-and-half and heavy cream to get a more indulgent, decadent drink.
Most tea shops now offer these alternatives to cater to different preferences and dietary needs. For example, if you’re making your milk tea at home, adjust the strength or sweetness of the tea and use whatever kind of milk you have on hand.