Milk tea is an increasingly popular beverage. Different kinds of milk tea are popular posts on social media, thanks to the many photogenic variations. There are a wide variety of options, with tiger milk tea being one of the most popular.
Tiger milk tea is also known as brown sugar milk tea. In addition to its popularity as a milk tea, it is also widely enjoyed as Boba (Boba is milk tea with added tapioca pearls). The defining characteristic of tiger milk tea is the pattern of vertical lines made of brown sugar syrup.
In addition to its characteristic look, it is one of the sweetest milk teas and Boba beverages. Along with being a favorite, tiger milk tea is easy to make. So let’s take a closer look at this trendy beverage.
What’s a Tiger Milk Tea?

The most popular tiger milk tea is the “Boba” tea. Boba tea is often called bubble or pearl milk tea. It’s important to know that Boba is any milk tea with added tapioca pearls. By extension, any recipe for milk tea becomes “Boba” with the simple addition of the distinct pearls.
Boba originates from the traditional Tai dessert drink for which it is named. Once exotic, the drink is ubiquitous in the US and other western countries.
Tiger Milk Tea
Tiger milk tea is one name for a popular milk tea characterized by streaks of brown stripes patterned vertically along the inside of the glass in which it gets served. The syrup is poured deliberately for plain milk tea without tapioca pearls to create the stripes.
The tapioca balls get soaked in Muscovado sugar syrup in proper Boba recipes. As the pearls get poured into the glass, they leave a pattern of stripes. When the milk tea gets added, the streaks are distinguishable.
What is Tiger Milk Tea Made of?
There are a few different recipes for tiger milk tea. Some are more intricate, but the basic principles stay the same. Let’s look at the basic ingredients of tiger milk tea.
Muscovado Sugar
Muscovado sugar is one of the least refined sugars on the market. Several recipes only require generic brown sugar syrup, but to get the “real” tiger milk experience, you need Muscovado sugar.
During production:
- Near-unrefined sugar lime gets added to the sugar cane extract. The resulting liquid gets cooked to evaporate and becomes a sticky treacle.
- The treacle is cooled to form sugar crystals. Here is where the main difference between Muscovado sugar and regular sugar comes into play. The molasses produced during cooking stays in the final product.
- The resulting Muscovado sugar is a dark and moist sugar that feels wet.
There are two varieties of Muscovado sugar. The dark Muscovado sugar described above is the “authentic” version. However, some manufacturers produce a less traditional form. The “light Muscovado sugar” is made by decreasing the ratio of molasses to sugar. Both kinds contain antioxidants.
Tapioca Pearls
Tapioca pearls make the difference between milk teas and Boba. They are a vegan-friendly product made with starch produced from cassava root. The little pearls are translucent (to some degree, although opacity may vary)
They served as a cheaper alternative to sago in East Asia. Interestingly, tapioca pearls are not naturally sweet. Instead, they get soaked in sugar syrup, such as Muscovado sugar syrup.
In addition to sugar syrup, tapioca pearls can absorb many other flavors. While it is not a part of traditional tiger milk tea recipes, you can soak the pearls in various flavored syrups.
Milk
While it may be apparent that milk tea requires milk, you have a selection of options in the exact kind of milk you choose. Different types of milk have varying impacts on the final product.
For example, whole milk is easier to froth but has a rich flavor profile. Conversely, milk low in fat doesn’t interfere with the flavor of milk tea as much but is much less like to froth.
You also have the option of using non-dairy milk. Each will bring its twist to your tiger milk tea. For example, oat milk blends with the sweet flavor of tiger milk tea without overwhelming the characteristic caramelized flavor.
Almond milk, on the other hand, has a noticeable taste that impacts tiger milk tea. The impact will be less pronounced if you are used to almond milk.
Tea (Optional)
You might think tea would be an obligatory ingredient in tiger milk tea. But, curiously, few popular milk tea recipes require any tea. That said, you can add a tea of your choice to your milk tea, either as traditional tea or tea concentrates.
The most popular kinds of tea are black tea and green tea. Earl grey is a common choice for regular tiger milk tea. Alternatively, adding green tea creates a variant called “green tiger milk.”
If you prefer to enjoy tiger milk tea as a start to your day, you may find the caffeine that tea adds essential for a morning boost.
What Does Tiger Milk Tea Taste Like?

Tiger milk tea has a rich, caramelized taste. It is sweet, perhaps too sweet for some. The tapioca pearls in tiger milk tea are soaked in Muscovado sugar syrup. That makes the chewy, sweetened pearls a concentrated version of the overall flavor of distinct Muscovado caramel.
How Much Caffeine Does Tiger Milk Tea Have?
Like so many other milk teas, tiger milk tea does not have to contain any tea. Therefore, it is caffeine free when prepared without any tea. That said, you can add tea to bring an extra dimension to the taste and an energy boost of caffeine.
You should always ask about added tea when purchasing tiger milk tea. Some recipes will include tea and, by extension, caffeine.
How Many Calories are in Tiger Milk Tea?
Most milk teas are considered a dessert drink, and there are precious few that don’t contain any sugar. Naturally, therefore, you should not expect a low-calorie count.
For example, tiger milk tea contains between 600 and 800 Kcal per average eight fl Oz servings. Most calories come from the sugar syrup, although the milk you choose may also raise the kilocalories.