I really should be making myself one of these Bullet Proof Milk Tea Lattes right now… what a week! I just got back from a few days galavanting through NYC with my best friends. I came back with a slight cold and a mountain of work that all needs to get done like yesterday. And did I mention Reuben signed us up to go kayaking with his office today?! I had a traumatic kayaking experience on Lake Tahoe a few years back, so fingers-crossed this afternoon will literally be smooth sailings.

If you’re a regular reader of Eat Cho Food I just wanted to say THANK YOU! Sometimes writing on here feels like I’m shouting at an empty white room, but I love hearing from you and seeing the recipes that you’ve made! I’m working on a top secrete extra special project that I hope to be able to share with you all soon if everything goes right! More on that later… let’s talk milk tea!

The Best Hong Kong Milk Tea

If you know me, then you know I’m obsessed with milk tea or lai cha. Whenever my dad would take us to Hong Kong, I would dream of all the sweet milk tea I’d be sipping on everyday. It’s just the best there! Maybe it’s the pantyhose…

You may be wondering, “But, Kristina, isn’t milk tea literally just milk and any kind of tea?” NOPE. Hong Kong Milk Tea is specifically strongly brewed black tea or ceylon tea, evaporated milk for that silky creaminess, and condensed milk for sweetness. I mentioned the pantyhose earlier because some cafes brew their tea with pantyhose for a smoother texture, so you might hear people calling it pantyhose tea… I don’t think anyone actually says that. The smell of the aromatic tea is so recognizable - roasty, nutty, and slightly sweet.

You can have milk tea iced or hot. I made a big pitcher of milk tea last month and it was a life saver for those few hot days in SF. But having a warm mug of this magical drink is my preference. When the drink is still warm you can taste all the individual flavors of the tea and condensed milk. I also just prefer to be cozy and bundled up as a general human.

In lieu of coffee or matcha, I’ll make myself a frothy cup of this Milk Tea Latte. You could just swirl together all the ingredients in your mug for a low key morning drink situation, but I like the extra step of blending it in my immersion blender because the frothy makes the drink feel a little more special. If you have a fancy latte / milk frother machine, then by all means use that. We’re not at that level yet and make due with our handy immersion blender.

Bulletproof Milk Tea Latte

So what makes this milk tea latte bulletproof? I used to add collagen protein into my morning lattes for a little extra pep in my step. I’ve since started adding a few teaspoons of Brightland Alive Extra Virgin Olive Oil to my lattes, which sounds odd but it actually adds a nice bright flavor to the overall deep and sweet drink. Classic bulletproof coffee has the addition of clarified butter and MCT or coconut oil. It’s meant to be highly energizing and great for people who are on a low carb high fat meal plan. I’m obvisouly not a nutritionist, so please consult with an expert before you dive deep into this world. I’m just here for the latte!

I LOVE adding just a few drops of my Rosebud CBD Oil in for a much needed calming effect. That stuff is magic. I’ve had some issues sleeping and with anxiety the last few months and their CBD has done wonders for my state of mind. It obvisouly doesn’t erase the reasons for my anxiety, but it does help me organize my thoughts and helps keep me calm and I sort through all the craziness in life.

If you just want to make a plain Milk Tea Latte, then just omit the olive oil and CBD. But if you’ve been feeling a bit scattered or anxious lately, I encourage you give the bulletproof version a try!

Bullet Proof Milk Tea Latte

makes 1 latte

materials:

1 cup boiled water
1 tbsp (or 2 tea bags) ceylon or black tea
1/2 cup dairy or nut milk
1-2 tbsp condensed milk
2 tsp Brightland Alive Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 ml 700MG Rosebud CBD
Unsweetened cocoa powder - optional topping

steps:

1. Place tea bags in a mug and pour boiled water over the tea. Allow the tea to brew for 4-5 minutes.

2. Discard the tea bags. Pour tea into a blender or the cup of an immersion blender. Add milk, condensed (per your sweetness level), Brightland Alive Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Rosebud CBD. Blend for 45 seconds until frothy.

3. Pour the tea back into a mug and enjoy! Top with cocoa powder for a little extra magic.