Step 1: Bring Water to Boil

1. Pour ½ cup of water into a small to medium saucepan.
2. Bring to a full, rolling boil over medium-high heat (about 2-3 minutes).

Step 2: Add Tea and Steep

1. Once water is boiling vigorously, add 2-3 teaspoons of loose leaf black tea (or 2-3 tea bags).
2. Reduce heat to medium-low immediately to prevent boiling over.
3. Let the tea simmer gently for 2-3 minutes. The water will become very dark—this is perfect! You’re creating a strong tea concentrate. Stir occasionally to ensure even extraction.

Step 3: Add Milk

1. After tea has steeped for 2-3 minutes, pour in ¾ to 1 cup of milk (start with ¾ cup for stronger tea flavor, use 1 full cup for creamier, milder tea).
2. Stir gently to combine the milk with the tea-infused water.
3. Continue heating over medium-low heat. Watch carefully—you want to heat the milk until it’s steaming and small bubbles form around the edges, but DO NOT let it boil! Boiling milk creates skin on top and can scorch, affecting taste. This takes about 3-4 minutes.
4. The mixture should reach about 160-180°F—hot enough to be steaming but not bubbling vigorously.

Step 4: Strain and Sweeten

1. Once the milk is heated through (steaming with tiny bubbles at the edges), remove from heat immediately.
2. Place a fine-mesh strainer over your serving cup or mug.
3. Pour the hot milk tea through the strainer to catch all the tea leaves (or remove tea bags with a spoon).
4. Add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar, honey, or your preferred sweetener to the hot tea. Stir until completely dissolved. Taste and adjust—you want subtle sweetness that enhances the tea without overwhelming it.
5. Optional: Add ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract and a tiny pinch of sea salt for enhanced flavor depth.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

1. Pour into your favorite teacup or mug (strain again if any tea leaves escaped).
2. Optional: Use a milk frother to create a thin layer of foam on top for that café-style presentation.
3. Serve immediately while hot. The first sip should be creamy, smooth, with perfect tea-milk balance and gentle sweetness.
4. For iced version: Let the tea cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold and serve over ice.