Lavender Milk Tea
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.I love making this refreshing iced lavender milk tea with boba when I need a small pick me up or a simple treat during the day. I steep Earl Grey tea with fragrant lavender leaves, then pour it over ice and finish it with creamy almond milk. It is vegan, gluten free, and best part is having a delicious drink ready in under one hour.
The scent of lavender has always been one of my favorites. It is floral and refreshing, slightly sweet, with just enough bitterness to keep it interesting. When I realized I could steep lavender to make a lavender latte, I started experimenting with this herb in my own kitchen. Lavender boba tea is surprisingly easy to make at home and also very budget friendly.
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. If this recipe is a favorite, my chocolate milk tea or my wintermelon milk tea are also great options and offer delicious twists on classic boba tea.
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
Last weekend, my friend Claire came over for an afternoon catch up, and I made this lavender milk tea for us to share. Steeping fresh lavender flowers in Earl Grey released a soft floral fragrance that signaled it was time to slow down. Lavender is often associated with stress relief, and sipping the tea with creamy almond milk made our conversation linger a little longer. The boba added a playful texture and turned a simple tea break into a small indulgence we both enjoyed.
The good news is that I can make this at home easily, and now you can do it too without going out and spending money. I steep fresh lavender flowers with Earl Grey tea, cook the boba pearls, and finish everything with almond milk. It is also easy to customize. I sometimes add a touch of maple syrup or simple syrup for extra sweetness, or swap almond milk for oat milk. Making it from scratch allows me to control the quality of the ingredients and the amount of sugar in each cup. 🙂
This lavender milk tea is a great option for anyone looking for a calming ritual, especially if you have kids like me and full days packed with activities. It is the kind of drink I look forward to once I get home and finally slow down. The floral flavor, creamy milk, and chewy boba come together in a way that works just as well for guests as it does for a quiet moment on my own. I hope you give it a try.
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🥘 Ingredients
This is the best lavender milk tea recipe, and I only need 5 ingredients. Yes, that’s right!
Earl Grey Tea Bags: Though loose tea leaves can be used if strained through a fine mesh sieve.
Tapioca Pearls: Tapioca pearls are lightly sweetened, chewy balls made from tapioca starch. I usually find boba pearls at my local Asian grocery store or online.
Brown Sugar: I use brown sugar to create a sweet syrup to soak the pearls in.
Dried Lavender Flowers: Dried lavender flowers add plenty of lavender flavor, but I make sure not to use too much, or the tea can taste soapy. If I can’t find dried lavender, I use a lavender tea bag instead.
Almond Milk and Ice: I use unsweetened almond milk for its mild and creamy texture, but any plant-based milk works. Ice cubes help chill the lavender boba milk tea.
🔪 How To Make
Here are the simple steps I follow to make this lavender milk tea at home.
Simmer Water: I simmer 2 cups of water in a small saucepan, then remove it from the heat.
Steep Tea: I place the loose lavender leaves in a tea infuser and add it to the hot water along with the tea bags, then steep everything for 5 minutes.
Let the Tea Cool: I remove the tea bags and infuser and let the tea cool to room temperature.
Cook Tapioca Pearls: While it cools, I bring a small pot of water to a boil, add the tapioca pearls, reduce the heat, and simmer them for 5 to 6 minutes.
Strain Boba: I strain the pearls, transfer them to a small bowl, and stir in the brown sugar. Then I set them aside to cool completely.
Add Boba First: I divide the tapioca pearls and syrup between 2 glasses.
Make Lavender Bubble Tea: I top each tall glass with ice, then add the steeped black lavender tea and almond milk.
Serve: I stir the tea and serve it immediately.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for this recipe is to make the tea ahead of time and refrigerate it. When I already have a chilled lavender Earl Grey base waiting in the fridge, putting the drink together takes just a few minutes. I can cook the boba, grab a glass of ice, pour in the tea, and finish with almond milk without having to wait for anything to cool down. It is a simple habit that saves time and makes this milk tea easy to serve whenever I want it.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Sweeten to Taste: If I like a sweeter lavender milk tea, I stir in maple syrup, simple syrup, or light agave. If I’m using sugar or honey, I add it while the tea is still hot so it dissolves properly.
- Why I Make It From Scratch: I find that homemade lavender tea is far better than using lavender milk tea powder, which is just instant black tea powder, sugar, and lavender flavoring. Making it from scratch lets me control the quality of the ingredients and the amount of sugar in my drink.
- Stronger Lavender Flavor: For a stronger flavor, I steep the tea for an extra minute or 2.
- Do not oversteep: I keep an eye on the steeping time. Letting the tea sit too long can make the flavor bitter, so I taste it and stop once it smells and tastes balanced.
📖 Variations
There are plenty of ways to customize my lavender milk tea recipe. Here are some of my favorite variations to try:
Tea swap: I sometimes swap the Earl Grey tea with any blend I like, such as English Breakfast, white tea, or herbal teas. I also enjoy fruity options like mango, strawberry, apricot, or honeybush-flavored teas.
Different Kinds of Milk: I use any kind of milk I have on hand. Whole milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or soy milk all work well. For a richer, creamier taste, I sometimes use regular or non-dairy creamer.
Sleeping help: I love swapping the Earl Grey tea for chamomile when I want something gentler. I pour the hot steeped tea into glasses and top it with my choice of milk. This is a great option when I want a natural way to wind down and prepare for sleep.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I like serving this lavender milk tea with simple, lightly sweet treats that won’t overpower the floral notes. It pairs especially well with my mochi cookies, lemon loaf, or a slice of vegan pound cake.
For a more filling snack or brunch moment, I love pairing it with savory options too. My margherita flatbread or my veggie supreme pizza balances the sweetness of the tea nicely, especially when serving guests.
🧊 Storage Directions
Refrigerating: I store leftover lavender tea (without milk or boba) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: I usually don’t freeze lavender milk tea with milk, as it can separate and affect the texture.
Reheating: For a warm cup, I reheat the tea on the stove or in the microwave, then add milk and sweetener. I avoid reheating boba, as it tends to get tough and chewy after being cooked and cooled.
❓Recipe FAQs
What causes the milk to curdle or form odd textures?
I’ve found that adding milk while the tea is still very hot or heating the milk too quickly can cause it to curdle or become grainy. I let the tea cool slightly before adding the milk, or I heat the milk gently without bringing it to a boil to keep it smooth.
How do I prevent my drink from tasting too weak after it cools?
If my tea cools and tastes weak, it’s usually because the lavender or tea wasn’t strong enough to begin with. I infuse it a bit longer (without overdoing it) or brew a concentrated base and chill it to keep the flavor strong when served cold.
What should I do if my tapioca pearls are hard or not chewy?
I make sure to simmer my tapioca pearls for the full recommended time and I let them sit in the sweet syrup to soften and hydrate before adding them to my drink.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Lavender Milk Tea
I love making this refreshing iced lavender milk tea with boba when I need a small pick me up or a simple treat during the day. I steep Earl Grey tea with fragrant lavender leaves, then pour it over ice and finish it with creamy almond milk. It is vegan, gluten free, and best part is having a delicious drink ready in under one hour.
Servings: 3 glasses
Calories: 129kcal
Ingredients
- 3 Earl Grey tea bags
- ½ cup tapioca pearls
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp dried lavender flowers
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Simmer 2 cups of water, remove from the heat.
- Add the loose lavender flowers to a tea infuser and place in the hot water along with the tea bags, steep for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags and tea infuser and allow the tea to come to room temperature.
- While the tea is cooling bring a small pot of water to a boil, add the tapioca pearls reduce heat and simmer for 5-6 minutes.
- Strain the pearls, add to a small bowl, and stir through the brown sugar. Set aside and cool completely.
- Evenly divide the soaked tapioca pearls and syrup between two glasses.
- Divide the ice between the glasses and top with the steeped tea and finish off with almond milk.
- Stir and serve immediately.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for this recipe is to make the tea ahead of time and refrigerate it. When I already have a chilled lavender Earl Grey base waiting in the fridge, putting the drink together takes just a few minutes. I can cook the boba, grab a glass of ice, pour in the tea, and finish with almond milk without having to wait for anything to cool down. It is a simple habit that saves time and makes this milk tea easy to serve whenever I want it.
- Sweeten to Taste: If I like a sweeter lavender milk tea, I stir in maple syrup, simple syrup, or light agave. If I’m using sugar or honey, I add it while the tea is still hot so it dissolves properly.
- Why I Make It From Scratch: I find that homemade lavender tea is far better than using lavender milk tea powder, which is just instant black tea powder, sugar, and lavender flavoring. Making it from scratch lets me control the quality of the ingredients and the amount of sugar in my drink.
- Stronger Lavender Flavor: For a stronger flavor, I steep the tea for an extra minute or 2.
- Do not oversteep: I keep an eye on the steeping time. Letting the tea sit too long can make the flavor bitter, so I taste it and stop once it smells and tastes balanced.
Nutrition
Serving: 1glass | Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 9g
Quite delicious I tried it in a nice spring day
So happy to hear that Janis!
I have just recently found tapioca pearls at our local store, and have been looking for something to try them in. This was delicious, so calming!
Yay! Thanks Dona! 🙂
Oh my gosh this is so so good. Thanks so much for another recipe for all of our fresh lavender. We loved this!
Thanks so much Tracy!! So happy to hear that!
Every since visiting Taiwan we have been obsessed with Boba tea. Love the lavender flavor.
Yess!! I love boba too! So glad you liked this recipe!
omg this was AMAZING!!!! I never thought to make homemade milk tea before, I always go out and buy it. This was so easy to make and absolutely delicious. I will definitely be making this all the time now.
Woohoo! I’m so happy to hear that Cam!
Lavender and Earl Grey are a heavenly match and a dairy-free milk tea just sounds irresistible. I already have some tapioca pearls in my pantry and loose lavender tea. I’m going to get to work on this delicious drink right now…
Yay!! You will love this recipe Aimee! Keep me posted on how it turns out!