Hokkaido Milk Tea: Discover The Popular Japanese Milk Tea

From China to Great Britain, milk tea has been a famous beverage. Various tea shops tweak the drink to produce new tastes and make unique creations using simple everyday ingredients. Enter Hokkaido milk tea. 

This milk tea puts a Japanese twist on a classic favorite beverage by incorporating milk produced locally. Hokkaido milk tea is a creamy, rich drink that you can enjoy in its traditional form. 

The Hokkaido milk drink provides a smoother texture than most of the diaries produced around the world. And that makes it a highly unique dairy and a must-try that you can't get anywhere else. 

Most people that have tried the beverage characterize it to be creamy, indulgent, and "mouth coating." That's because of the high amount of fat content compared to other dairy products. 

What Is Hokkaido Milk Tea? 

Hokkaido milk tea got its name from the region in which it was produced. It is the second-largest island in Japan. Hokkaido, a province in Japan, is recognized for its straggling agriculture and production of dairies. Compared to other regions in Japan, Hokkaido is less densely populated. 

But if you are a tea tourist, this area is a fantastic place to visit to taste the outstanding Hokkaido milk drink. It's interesting to know that Hokkaido milk drink is popularly called Nidashi milk tea or royal milk tea. 

However, most people in the western world confuse Hokkaido milk drink with a bubble tea or boba tea. And that is because the drink may contain tapioca balls. Boba is a beverage from Taiwan, and Hokkaido or Nidashi milk tea is a Japanese creation. 

What Is The Hokkaido Milk Tea Made Of? 

Nidashi milk tea comprises black tea leaves and milk. The milk is traditionally made from fresh milk produced in the Hokkaido province. They produce the tea using high-quality black tea leaves that includes Darjeeling, Ear Grey, and Darjeeling varieties. 

The tea is usually sweetened with brown sugar or caramel syrup, and some recipes include adding tapioca pearls for added flavor and texture. For modern blends, most people use oolong tea leaves or green tea leaves. 

Today, however, you can find various blends of the Nidashi milk tea with fresh leaves and milk powder manufactured from Hokkaido province. The tea has grown in popularity from different tea shops in Kyoto to tea houses in Chinatown in various cities in the United States. Not only that but also in Singapore and Korean households. 

You can find various tea shops in Los Angeles that serve royal milk tea. Most companies provide pre-packaged versions with which you can take on the go. 

The Flavor Of The Hokkaido Milk Tea

Nidashi milk tea has a strong bubble tea flavor balanced with a creamy texture. The milk tea provides roasted and earthy flavors due to the availability of black tea leaves. It is a creamy milk tea that provides a pleasant, full-bodied texture, including its rich tea flavor. 

Like taro boba tea or taro milk tea, the royal milk tea can be dressed as a fruit tea when you add additional ingredients. Some tea shops add a little bit of ice cream or coconut oil to the milk tea even more indulgent. 

The Best Times To Take Royal Milk Tea 

You can enjoy the Hokkaido milk drink at any time. But the best time to take the beverage is in the morning, especially after you wake up. The milk tea freshens your mind to get you ready for your daily tasks. You can also take the beverage in the evening to boost your energy level after a busy day. 

The aroma and taste of the Hokkaido milk drink can increase your motivation to continue working. The Japanese enjoy homemade royal milk tea, but they head out to various tea shops to get a diverse taste and flavor. In Japan, they use the Hokkaido milk drink for cakes, pastries, and puddings. 

How To Make The Hokkaido Milk Tea 

Ingredients 

• 1 - ½ cup of black tea 
• ¼ - ½ cup of Hokkaido milk 
• 2 tablespoon of sweetener 
• Tapioca balls (optional) 

Preparation 

Step 1 

Before you begin, boil a pot of water to make about 1-½ cups of black tea. You can use loose leaf black tea. But you can also use tea bags for convenience. Be cautious of the cooking time because that can be a massive difference in the flavor and taste. 

When the water hits the boiling point, continue to steep the tea bag until you get your preferred flavor. While steeping, pour the Hokkaido milk into the pot. That way, you can steep both the tea and milk at the same time. 

We recommend that you steep the tea and milk for an additional two to four minutes. It brings out the sweetness and comes out rich and creamy with lots of flavors buried in the beverage. But of course, the steeping time depends on you and what you prefer. 

Step 2 

When you are satisfied with the tea and Hokkaido milk's steepness, put it aside for it to cool. While it cools, take your favorite cup and start adding your preferred sweetener. You can use brown sugar syrup as it adds a great taste to the beverage. But you can use other sweeteners such as honey, syrup, or even traditional sugar. It all depends on your taste buds. 

Step 3 

Is your tea mix cooled to room temperature? Great! 

Now, all you have to do now is to add everything together. Take a handful of ice and add it to your favorite cup. Add it to the Hokkaido milk drink you steeped and stir. 

Adding Tapioca Pearls To The Drink (Optional) 

If you want to add tapioca balls to the royal milk tea, you can do so easily. It is as simple as making the Hokkaido milk drink itself. You can either make your homemade tapioca pearls or purchase them at the shop. 

If you buy the tapioca pearls, read the instructions at the back. You will find the cooking instructions for making the tapioca balls. It will generally take five to ten minutes to cook the store-bought tapioca balls, depending on the brand. 

You can add brown sugar syrup to spice the tapioca pearls up. You can soak it in the syrup for about 5-10 minutes before you serve. It will give the already tapioca pearls an extra flavor element. 

Conclusion 

Everyone, including you, can change something ordinary into an extraordinary thing. Making tea is among the things people often do without rarely thinking about it. It's about time you start adding your unique style to tea making. And prove to your friends and family that you've prepared something unique and better. 

That's where Hokkaido milk tea comes in. Besides, a cup of Hokkaido milk drink can help you release mental fatigue in the afternoon and after you wake up in the morning. The delicious taste and aroma of the beverage will help you recharge your energy level. That way, you can have the capacity to work throughout the day.