Can’t get enough milk tea? Neither can we. The sweetness. The creaminess. It does wonders for a good black tea! That’s why we’re excited about Top Chef finalist Melissa King‘s Numi rendition on one of her childhood favorites, Hong Kong Milk Tea. Chef Melissa, who has been called one of the most exciting young talents in America’s culinary scene, joins us with a little Q&A about her Numi creation, including her Hong Kong Milk Tea recipe.
Off to you, Chef Melissa!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m born and raised in Los Angeles, but have been living in San Francisco for over 10 years. I’m a Bay Area trained chef and also a chef ambassador of Whole Foods Market.
What inspired your Hong Kong Milk Tea recipe?
My family roots are in Hong Kong, so I grew up watching my parents drinking milk tea every morning. A traditional Hong Kong Milk Tea is very strong, but I wanted to create a recipe that maintained the classic flavor and creaminess while mellowing out the intense tannic notes of the tea.
What does tea mean to you?
Tea is such a huge part of my Chinese culture — whether it was from my parents cup of Hong Kong Milk Tea in the morning, sipping Chrysanthemum tea around a dim sum table, or memories of enjoying my grandmother’s favorite oolong tea — I have specific memories anchored to specifics teas. Tea means family, culture, and maintaining traditions.
Do you have a favorite Numi Tea that you like to drink at home?
I’ve been really into the Numi Rooibos Chai lately — it has really great earthy and spice notes. I like that it’s a caffeine free option that I can enjoy later in the day.
Try Chef Melissa’s Hong Kong Milk Tea recipe for yourself:
Hong Kong Milk Tea
Cook time
Total time
Author: Chef Melissa King
Serves: 1 cup
Ingredients
- 8 oz - Hot water
- 1 Numi Breakfast Blend Tea Bag (or loose black tea)
- 1 teaspoon - Condensed milk for sweetness
- 2 teaspoon - Evaporated milk for creaminess
Instructions
- Brew tea leaves in a pot in boiling water. Steep for 4-5 minutes. Strain well.
- Mix with condensed milk and evaporated milk to your preference. Hong Kong milk tea should be tannic but with a balance of sweetness and creaminess.
In an exclusive partnership with Chef Melissa, Whole Foods Market, Humphry Slocombe and Numi Tea, Hong Kong Milk Tea will also be featured as a new Humphry Slocombe ice cream flavor available exclusively at Whole Foods Market Northern California and Reno stores, starting May 5th, 2017.
Yummy