Yuanyang Coffee: The Best Hong Kong Coffee Milk Tea Recipe
Learn how to make yuanyang coffee tea, and explore the palate of Hong Kong without leaving home.
I can’t always pencil in a trip to Hong Kong, but I can always make yuanyang coffee. Served iced or hot, this popular Hong Kong drink never fails to transport me back to the sweltering, subtropical streets lined with fragrant food stalls and bustling coffee shops.
Yuanyang coffee is a unique drink that pairs coffee and tea for a compelling and complex beverage. I know it might sound strange, but don’t knock it ‘til you try it because this is something truly special.
What Is Hong Kong Style Yuanyang Milk Tea?
Yuanyang – also sometimes spelled yuenyeung or yuan yang – is a simple combination of equal parts coffee and Hong Kong milk tea. Served hot or cold, it is one of the most popular orders in the local Hong Kong-style cafes, known as cha chaan tengs (1).
It shares similarities with other Southeast Asian specialties like Thailand’s Black Tie coffee and Vietnam’s caphe sua da, but has its own avid fan base.
Yuanyang Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons black Ceylon tea
- 4 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 16 oz strong brewed coffee
- Ice cubes or coffee ice cubes (optional)
At a Glance
Brew Time:
10-15 minutes
Yield
32 ounces (2 to 4 servings)
How to Make Yuanyang Coffee: Step-By-Step
Making yuanyang tea at home is no more complicated than brewing black coffee and milky tea. Today, I’ll teach you to serve it hot or iced, so you can enjoy this tasty coffee drink year-round.
This coffee recipe makes roughly 32 ounces of coffee-tea mixture, which in my experience, is two to four servings – depending on how thirsty you are and whether you add ice.
1. Brew The Tea
Add 2 cups (16 ounces) of water to a small saucepan and bring to nearly a boil over medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons of black Ceylon tea, and stir gently. Lower the heat, and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
Once three minutes have elapsed, carefully strain your hot black tea through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large pitcher that holds at least 34 ounces.
Pro Tip: Replace the loose black tea leaves with two Ceylon tea bags if that’s more easily available.
2. Make Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea
Add 4 ounces of sweetened condensed milk to the brewed tea and stir thoroughly to combine.
Pro Tip: If you want more control over sweetness, add 4 ounces of evaporated milk and sweeten to taste with white sugar.
3. Brew The Coffee
Brew 16 ounces of strong coffee using any brewing method.
My preference is a French press. I add 36 grams of freshly ground medium-coarse coffee and 17 ounces of water at 200 F, then steep for 4 minutes.
Pro Tip: You can use any coffee beans you enjoy for this recipe. I favor a darker roast with a bold enough flavor to balance the milky tea.
4. Combine The Milk Tea And Coffee
Add the 16 ounces of brewed coffee to the milk tea in the pitcher. Stir to combine.
5. Serve Hot Or Cold
To serve your yuanyang coffee hot, divide it amongst 2 to 4 prewarmed mugs – depending on your preferred serving size – and enjoy immediately.
For an iced coffee version, put the pitcher in the fridge or freezer until the contents cool to at least room temperature. Fill pre-chilled serving glasses with ice cubes or coffee ice cubes. Pour the cooled coffee milk tea over ice, and serve.
Pro tip: Make coffee ice cubes by brewing coffee (or saving leftover coffee) and freezing in an ice cube tray.
Final Thoughts
Yuanyang coffee is a simple drink with a surprisingly complex flavor profile, thanks to the combination of strong black coffee and sweet creamy milk tea. Served hot or iced, it’s an easy and delicious way to bring a piece of Chinese culture into your kitchen.
FAQs
Yes, you can use instant coffee to make Yuanyang coffee. Replace the freshly brewed coffee in Step 3 with 4 teaspoons of instant coffee dissolved in 16 ounces of hot water. Use high-quality coffee powder for the best results.
You can replace the sweetened condensed milk with evaporated milk and white sugar or another sweetener. You can also use a fresh milk product, like heavy cream or half-and-half – again, sweetened to taste.
Yes, you can easily explore different coffees or teas to adjust the flavor profile of your drink. Make a decaf version by using rooibos in place of black tea and decaf coffee beans. Make a vegan version by replacing the condensed milk with a non-dairy creamer or sweetened coconut milk.
References
- Jones, G. (2022, March 11). Hong Kong’s ‘greasy spoon’ cafes. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220310-hong-kongs-greasy-spoon-cafes
