Rose milk tea is a delicious drink made with black tea infused with floral, aromatic homemade rose syrup and a splash of warm milk.
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I loved the idea of infused tea when I tried Starbucks blossoming rose tea. This delicious beverage is not a copycat recipe of Starbucks but my own rose milk tea, I tried different options to get the perfect floral notes of rose. Finally, I could achieve it with rose syrup made with real roses as it infuses not so intense floral aroma like rose water.
To keep the syrup natural without adding any artificial colouring agents, I used dried hibiscus petals.
Recipe for Rose syrup
Recipe for rose syrup is simple to make at home. This recipe requires just 3 ingredients rose petals, water and sugar to make. I have used dried rose petals to make this syrup. To make this simple rose syrup just boil water, sugar and dried rose petals until sugar dissolves.
I have used dried hibiscus petals as a natural food colouring agent, it was not steeped for long to impart any noticeable floral aroma. You may add a few drops of rose water to the syrup if you prefer intense floral aroma and flavour. Check out hibiscus tea recipe on the blog.
Recipes with Rose Syrup
This syrup adds delicate, sweet, aromatic and subtle floral notes to any drinks hot or cold. This versatile syrup makes a great base for any drinks such as rose lassi, tea, coffee, cocktails, flavored lemonade, falooda, milkshakes.
Ingredients
Water: 1 cup
Sugar: 1 cup
Dried Rose Petals: ½ cup
Dried Hibiscus petals: 2 (optional)
How to make rose syrup?
Place water, sugar and rose petals in a sauce pan, bring it to boil on medium high heat.
Now reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until sugar completely dissolves and mixture thickens. Turn off the heat.
Finally add dried hibiscus petals and steep for 3-4 minutes.
Remove hibiscus petals and let the syrup cool down to room temperature.
Strain the syrup and discard rose petals.
Store the syrup in sterilised glass container/bottle in fridge.
Recipe Notes
The above measurements yields 250ml syrup.
Store this rose simple syrup in fridge until you are ready to use. You could keep it in fridge for around 3 months.
While straining the syrup press the rose petals with back of spoon to extract as much syrup as possible.
Syrup thickens once it cools down.
To get right consistency, just lift the spoon out of pan and make sure syrup lightly coats to the spoon.
Do not steep hibiscus petals for more than 5 minutes. Hibiscus petals acts as a natural colouring agent, steeping for a long time impact rose taste and sweet floral flavor.
Brown sugar, coconut sugar or palm sugar are great alternative to refined sugar. To cut down calories, replace half the quantity of sugar with maple syrup. However, these sweeteners would impact the colour and syrup would be rather dark in colour. So it's unnecessary to use hibiscus petals.
You may swap dried rose petals with organic edible rose petals (from fresh roses), rose buds or rose powder.
Addition of hibiscus petals is optional, you may skip if you do not have them. In the below image you can see the pink color difference before and after adding hibiscus petals.
How to make rose milk tea?
Rose milk tea is a rose syrup infused in black tea with milk. Steep a tea bag in water, mix in rose syrup and finally add milk. You may top up with dried petals/ rose petal dust if you wish to.
This recipe is pretty easy and quick to make if you have a pre-made rose syrup. Rose syrup is time taking process though not much maybe around 15 minutes. The best part is you can make a batch of rose syrup and store it in the fridge. This syrup stays good for nearly 3 months if stored properly in a clean, sterilised and dry glass bottle.
Ingredients
Water: 1 cup
Milk: 1 cup
Tea Bags: 2
Rose Syrup: 2 tbsp
Instructions
In a saucepan, bring water to a rolling boil over medium heat.
Switch the heat off once water starts boiling.
Now add teabags and steep for 5 minutes and discard the tea bags.
In a second pan, warm milk and foam with a milk frother for 30-40 seconds.
Now divide the brewed tea into two cups, mix in 1 tablespoon rose syrup in each cup and then add frothy milk.
Enjoy a cup of rose milk tea while hot.
Recipe Notes
For a vegan version floral tea, use non-dairy milks such as almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, soy milk or any plant-based milk to make this rose tea latte.
Add rose syrup depending on the level of sweetness and how intense the rose flavour you prefer.
You may add a few drops of rose water along with homemade syrup if you prefer intense flavoured rose milk tea latte but not the sweetness.
Adjust milk and water ratio to suit your taste buds. I personally like the 1:1 ratio (1 cup of water to 1 cup of milk) for rose latte.
Variations and Substitutions
Use any tea of your choice - black tea leaves, loose leaf tea, green tea, masala chai spice mix could be used instead of tea bags. Follow the package instructions for measurements.
This rose milk tea recipe can be prepared without stovetop. Boil water in a kettle. Pour the hot water in a jug or a saucepan, add tea bags and steep. Warm milk in a cup in a microwave and then foam with a frother.
Semi-skimmed or skimmed milk could be used instead of whole milk.
More Tea Recipes
📖 Recipe Card
Rose Milk Tea | Rose Tea Latte
Ingredients
1 Cup = 250ml ; 1 Tablespoon = 15ml ; 1 Teaspoon = 5ml
For Rose Syrup
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Sugar
- ½ Cup Dried Rose Petals
- 2 Dried Hibiscus Petals optional
For Rose Milk Tea
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 Tea Bags
- 2 Tablespoons Rose Syrup
Instructions
For Rose Syrup
- Place water, sugar and rose petals in a sauce pan, bring it to boil on medium high heat.1 Cup Water, 1 Cup Sugar, ½ Cup Dried Rose Petals
- Now reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until sugar completely dissolves and mixture thickens. Turn off the heat.
- Finally add dried hibiscus petals and steep for 3-4 minutes.2 Dried Hibiscus Petals
- Remove hibiscus petals and allow the syrup to cool down completely.
- Strain the syrup and discard rose petals.
- Store the syrup in sterilised glass container/bottle in fridge.
For Rose Milk Tea
- In a saucepan, bring water to a rolling boil over medium heat.1 Cup Water
- Switch the heat off once water starts boiling.
- Now add teabags and steep for 5 minutes and discard the tea bags.2 Tea Bags
- In a second pan, warm milk and foam with a milk frother for 30-40 seconds.1 Cup Milk
- Now mix in 1 tablespoon rose syrup in each cup and add milk.2 Tablespoons Rose Syrup
- Enjoy rose milk tea while hot.
Notes
Nutrition
KEEP IN TOUCH
Do let me know if you make this tea lovers favourite drink Rose Tea Latte. If you like this recipe kindly consider rating it using stars in the comment section or on the recipe card to help more people find this recipe online. You can stay up to date by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or subscribing to my Youtube channel. Or why not subscribe to my blog and get simple recipes straight to your inbox?
Mathew says
rose tea improves the body's digestion and also it is high in antioxidants and vitamin c.
Patty says
It tastes so smooth and gives a calming feeling. It's really great to ease out the stress of online-learning. For my first time making this, it tastes just like roses, however, I should've boiled it for a little longer and then simmered, I wasn't really counting the minutes haha; just to get that stronger taste. Overall, I like it!
Geetha Priyanka says
Thanks for your feedback. I'm so glad you enjoyed the tea.
Jo Golden says
Hello! I have to know, in the picture, what did you use for garnish?
Geetha Priyanka says
Do you mean the topping on tea? If so then that's a dried rose petals powder.
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
what a perfect comforting drink for a chilly day. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare
Geetha Priyanka says
My pleasure Jacqui.
Lesli Schwartz says
Wow! This rose milk tea looks so warming. It's the perfect drink for the chilly season ahead!
Geetha Priyanka says
Indeed it is a perfect drink in cold weather.
Amanda says
Love all your tips! Super helpful. Thanks for sharing!
Geetha Priyanka says
Glad to know.
Beth Neels says
This is great! I have tons of wild roses on my property! I am going to make a note to dry a bunch of petals next year so that I can make this delicious tea!
Geetha Priyanka says
Wow that's plenty. I am sure you will like it. There are so many recipes to try with rose syrup and dries rose petals as well to try Beth.
Meymi-Pastry and Beyond says
It looks and sounds delicious. I love rose flavor. Thank you for the step by step pictures.
Geetha Priyanka says
Glad you like the recipe. I hope you do try and let me know how you liked it.
Jagruti Dhanecha says
What a lovely idea of using rose petals in making tea, a perfect aromatic and comfy beverage to beat the cold.
Geetha Priyanka says
Thank you.