Butter Tea-Inspired Hot Tea
Strong black tea is whisked with butter, milk and a measured pinch of salt into a savory, lightly frothy drink. This accessible butter-tea adaptation uses ordinary dairy rather than claiming the ingredients or traditional equipment of yak-butter tea.
Non-alcoholicMake it like a pro.
4 minutes preparation, about 4 minutes tea brewing and 2 minutes warming and frothing.
- 01
Brew black tea following its package directions, remove the bag or leaves, and measure 180 g finished tea.
- 02
Pour the measured hot tea into a small saucepan with the milk, butter and salt. Warm gently until the butter melts; avoid boiling.
- 03
Whisk briskly by hand, or use a heat-safe milk frother with enough pan depth, until the butter is dispersed and a light froth appears.
- 04
Serve the entire portion hot. Stir or whisk again if the butter separates as it stands.
Tools for This Recipe
Helpful equipment for making this recipe at home.
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Easy swaps
- Use 4 g butter instead of 8 g for a less rich version; fat and calories decrease.
- Use a different strongly brewed black tea at the same finished volume; flavor and precise tea composition vary.
Mixpert tips
- Use unsalted butter so the small salt amount can be controlled separately.
- Do not seal steaming tea in a countertop blender; a whisk or suitable heat-safe frother is sufficient.
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Butter Tea-Inspired Hot Tea FAQs
Is butter tea sweet?
This version is savory. It contains measured salt and no sugar, honey or syrup; it should not taste like a sweet chai latte.
Does this contain yak butter?
No. The reference uses ordinary unsalted dairy butter and whole milk. It is explicitly an accessible butter-tea-inspired adaptation rather than an authenticity claim.
Why does the butter separate?
A whisked tea-and-butter mixture is not permanently stabilized. Serve promptly and stir again if a light oil layer appears; that does not change the listed ingredient quantities.