It’s officially summertime, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Many try to beat the heat by drinking the latest craze in the country: milk tea. It’s become so popular in the Philippines that foreign milk tea brands set up branches in the country, and people line up by dozens, if not hundreds a day, just to get a taste of it.
If you love milk tea so much but can’t stand to line up for a long time, you’ll be happy to know that you can brew your own in your condo. The ingredients of these simple summer recipes can be bought at the nearest grocery to your DMCI Homes condo.
Boba Thai Milk Tea
The bubble milk tea or simply referred to as Boba was first made popular in Taiwan. It’s the most basic flavor of all, hence, making it the easiest milk tea recipe you can do at home. It’s also available in most, if not all, of the milk tea shops in the metro. Here’s how you can make milk tea with boba using Lipton Tea.
Step 1: Add two tea bags into a cup. This will help create a stronger tea flavor.
Step 2: Add hot water into the cup.
Step 3: Allow three to five minutes to brew the tea. Do not stir or squeeze the tea bag.
Step 4: Add condensed milk, as well as honey or brown sugar according to your taste and diet.
Step 5: Add a ½ cup of tapioca pearls
Step 6: Add cubed or crushed ice into another cup/glass.
Step 7: Pour the tea into the glass with ice.
You see, it’s a quick and easy milk tea recipe with condensed milk. More importantly, the ingredients would cost you no more than Php300, but can easily make more than two servings. If you want it extra special, you can add a dash of cinnamon to the mix for a different spice undertone to your drink. If you’re having a hard time finding boba pearls at your local supermarket, you can order them from online stores like Shopee and Lazada.
Strawberry Boba Milk Tea
Strawberry is good for more than just ice cream flavors, it also tastes good as milk tea. Here’s what you need for a complete strawberry bubble tea recipe: 1 cup of strawberries, ½ cup of milk, ½ cup of tea, sugar syrup, and 2 tablespoons of light cream to make it creamy. Adding cream is optional.
Step 1: Create the sugar syrup. Mix equal parts of brown and rock sugar together. Add water, then bring it to a boil. If you’re having trouble finding rock sugar at the local grocery store, you can just use brown sugar to make the sugar syrup.
Step 2: Put the strawberry, ½ cup of milk, ½ cup of tea, and 2 tablespoons of light cream into a blender. If you want it thin and dark, you can go light on the cream.
Step 3: Pour the sugar syrup into the blender
Step 4: Add a ½ cup of tapioca pearls.
Step 5: Add crushed or cubed ice to the blender.
Step 6: Pour the strawberry boba milk tea into a large cup.
Winter Melon Milk Tea
There are a couple of ways to make winter melon milk tea. One is the long natural way of doing it, while the other is the powdered winter melon milk tea recipe.
Let’s start with the long natural process. You’ll need the following ingredients: 1.5 kilograms of winter melon or known locally as kundol, 250 grams of brown sugar, 50 grams white table sugar, and black or green tea.
Step 1: Slice the winter melon flesh into cubes.
Step 2: Add the winter melon and brown sugar in a pot and set aside for an hour.
Step 3: Add rock sugar into the pot and boil. Cover it once it does and reduce the heat. Simmer until the winter melon is completely transparent. This could take up to two hours.
Step 4: Put it in a strainer and extract as much liquid as you can get. This is now your winter melon syrup.
Step 5: Brew the tea with water. It should fill 3 parts of the cup.
Step 6: Mix 1 part winter melon syrup.
Step 7: Add cubed or crushed ice.
That sounds like a lot of work for a cup of brown sugar milk tea recipe. If you just can’t wait, there’s always the powdered version, which you can buy at a grocery near your DMCI Homes condo. All you have to do is mix it in ice-cold water and you’re ready to sip away the heat.
Matcha Milk Tea
One of the more popular flavors is matcha milk tea. It’s so popular that you’ll be able to see it at famous milk tea shops or stalls. Matcha milk tea is also one of the easiest milk tea drinks to make. If you are craving for one, take a look at this Japanese milk tea recipe so you can make it in your condo unit any time.
The list of ingredients includes 3 cups of water, ¼ cup of brown sugar, 1 cup of hot water, 1 cup milk, crushed or cubed ice, and 2 tablespoons of matcha powder. The instructions for this matcha milk tea recipe is simple: throw it all in a blender and mix until smooth. After which, you can pour all the contents into a tall glass to enjoy this ala-Gong Cha milk tea any time of the day.
With these milk tea recipes—which are surprisingly easy to make—you’re sure to be able to beat the summer heat any time of the day as much as you want. And the good thing about being able to make it at home is that you no longer have to line up for a long time at milk tea shops or stalls just to drink a cup. Even more, you’ll have the freedom to choose and create customized flavors according to your taste.
And since DMCI Homes condos are usually located just a stone’s throw away from the local grocery, you’ll be able to save money by buying the ingredients.