A layered iced tea latte with black tea, milk, and brown sugar. It’s sweet, refreshing, and so easy to make.
Brown Sugar iced Tea latte
- A layered iced tea latte that’s made sweet from the brown sugar, caffeinated from the tea, and creamy from the milk.
- Easy to make with easy-to-find ingredients.
- It’s layered — the secret is sugar and ice.
- Made with English breakfast tea but any black or oolong tea can be used instead.
- English breakfast tea is blended to be had with milk and sugar so it’s the perfect tea for this drink.
What You’ll Need
- English breakfast tea sachet
- Filtered water
- Milk (any you prefer)
- Brown sugar
- Ice
Photo Credit: Harney.com
How to Make Iced Brown Sugar TEa latte
1: Make tea
Boil water on the stovetop or in an electric kettle. Use filtered water if possible since better tea is made with better water.
Combine tea sachet and hot water in a glass container. Steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea sachet and let cool.
Tea Sommelier’s Tip: Only have loose tea? Use 1.5 teaspoons of loose tea instead of 1 tea sachet.
2. Make quick brown sugar syrup
Stir brown sugar and hot water until sugar dissolves.
3. Assemble drink
Put brown sugar simple syrup into a cup and add ice then slowly pour milk directly on top of the ice.
Slowly pour cooled down tea directly on top of the ice.
Stir before drinking.
Iced Brown Sugar Tea Latte Tips
- You can adjust the sugar but if you use too little sugar, the layering won’t work as well.
- Slowly pour milk and tea directly onto the ice, not into the liquid to help separate the layers.
- Because there isn’t as much of a difference in sugar content in the milk and tea, they’ll be less of a clear separation of layers. If you use a milk alternative with some sugar like oat milk, the layers will separate more.
Questions You May Have
When making layered drinks, the liquid with the highest sugar content should at the bottom since it’s the heaviest and will sink. The more of a difference there is in sugar, the more separated the layers will be. The ice helps to separate the layers even more when you pour the next layer. Make sure to slowly pour the next liquid directly onto the ice.
Any strong, dark tea would work well. Try an Assam black tea or hojicha, a roasted green tea.
You can, but make it double the strength than what you would normally cold brew. Use 1 tablespoon of tea for every cup of water.
Honey, maple syrup, or date syrup will all work well. Just make sure to make it into a simple syrup by stirring it in hot water first to make it easy to incorporate into the iced drink.
Related
- Easy Iced Earl Grey Tea Latte
- Quick & Easy Layered Iced Matcha Latte
- Easy Steps to Make English Breakfast Tea Properly
- Matcha Dalgona Coffee
- Iced Brown Sugar Coffee
Easy Iced Brown Sugar Tea Latte
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup ice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 English breakfast tea sachet
Quick Brown Sugar Syrup
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
MAKE TEA
- Boil water.Boil water on the stovetop or in an electric kettle (set it to 208°F). Use filtered water if possible since better tea is made with better water.
- Combine tea sachet and hot water in a glass container.
- Steep for 5 minutes.Discard tea sachet and let cool.
MAKE QUICK BROWN SIMPLE SYRUP
- Combine brown sugar and 2 tablespoons hot water. Stir until sugar has dissolved.
ASSEMBLE DRINK
- Put brown sugar simple syrup into a cup and add ice.
- Pour milk.Slowly pour milk directly on top of the ice instead of the brown sugar simple syrup.
- Pour tea.Slowly pour cooled down tea directly on top of the ice instead of into the milk. Stir before drinking.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
- Sugar content is what creates the separation of layers. The bottom layer has to sweeter than the layer above it.
- Ice helps to separate the layers. Pour tea or milk directly on top of the ice.
I want to use almond milk and swerve brown sugar substitute will this work and cut down some of the sugar?
Hi Ruth, yes, but there’s less sugar in almond milk than oat milk so it may not layer as well.
Just tried this drink for the first time. It was amazing! One of my new favourites and it’s so easy to make.
I tried this latte today, It was soooo good!! The brown sugar gave it a taste like caramel, i love it!!
I can’t consume caffeine and I am still kind of new to the tea world. What kind of decaffeinated tea would work best for making something like this?
Hi Heather, I’m not a fan of decaf tea since it’s made through a chemical process. Give herbal teas a try instead which are all don’t contain any caffeine. Rooibos or chamomile would be a nice alternative.
Love brown sugar milk tea and layered drinks, Jee! What size glass are you using?
Hi Olivia, I’m using a 13 oz cup (https://www.cb2.com/marta-double-old-fashioned/s522333).
Thank you!! I already purchased the other glasses from Crate and Barrel that you recommended!
Hi Jee,
I really like your blog! I have tried a few milk tea recipes from you and it turned out pretty amazing from the taste to the visual. Thank you so much for sharing lots of yummy recipes. Would you please show us how to make Hong Kong milk tea too?! 🙂
Hi Teri, wonderful! I have a Hong Kong-style tea here: https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/iced-milk-tea/