This simple cinnamon milk tea is easy, quick to make and bursts with sweet cinnamon and vanilla flavors. Perfect comforting drink to enjoy on a chilly day! Vegan and dairy-free.

View on a mug filled with warm cinnamon milk tea with a cinnamon stick on the side and a bowl with maple syrup.

This healthy cinnamon milk tea will become your favorite cozy drink to enjoy on a cold day or to include as part of your bedtime routine.

I love to sip on a soothing warm drink before bedtime to help my mind wind down. My favorites are this creamy butterfly flower tea latte, this ginger lemongrass lemon tea and this recent orange peel tea. They are so calming and delicious!

Now with the holidays coming up, I felt like something spiced and creamy at the same time, so I came up with this super simple homemade cinnamon tea that's made with oat milk, such a treat!

It is similar to my cardamom latte, although made caffeine-free.

It is filled with warming cinnamon spice, perfectly sweetened to taste with maple syrup, flavored with vanilla and ultra creamy and smooth, thanks to the addition of milk.

It comes together within minutes and you can tweak the recipe to your taste to make it your own, it is so versatile.

Perfect treat to snuggle on the couch with a good book. I hope you enjoy it! ❤️

Overhead view on a mug of cinnamon milk tea sprinkled with more cinnamon.

Traditional milk tea vs boba tea

Milk tea is simply tea served with milk. That being said, milk tea also is another name for "bubble tea" or "boba", which is chilled tea served with chewy tapioca balls and other flavoring ingredients.

In this recipe, I like serving this cinnamon tea recipe as a classic cup of warm sweet tea with milk, but if you were looking for a boba kind of milk tea, then keep reading where I share how to make it that way. I love boba and I have a few recipes on my website!

Why you will love this recipe

Easy and quick to prepare
Made with basic ingredients
Healthy drink that's rich in antioxidants
Calming, soothing and warm drink, delicious hot tea to help you relax in the evening
Family-friendly
Amazing comforting drink for the winter, fall or holiday season
Can be made with or without caffeine
Delicious beverage to enjoy while you have a sore throat
Vegan and dairy-free

Ingredients you will need

(See below in the recipe card for the measurements)

Cinnamon sticks: you will need 2 cinnamon sticks for this recipe. The type of cinnamon does not matter much, although I prefer using Ceylon cinnamon sticks or true cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon works too.
Plant-based milk: I like using oat milk for making drinks as it is naturally super creamy and a little sweet, too. I used the full-fat oat milk from Oatly. But, you can use different kinds of milk that you like or already have, such as almond milk, soy milk or cashew milk. Full-fat milk will give you a richer texture and flavor!
Maple syrup: sweetener of choice for this recipe. Maple syrup goes so well with cinnamon! That being said, you can use any other sweetener, such as agave nectar or granulated sugar.
Vanilla extract: adds amazing flavor and enhances the sweetness of the drink.
Tea: pick your favorite tea for making this recipe. I used black tea, but if you are enjoying it later in the evening, then opt for a non-caffeinated tea (see below).

Showing are the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

How to make cinnamon milk tea

(See below in the recipe card for the full recipe)

Make the cinnamon tea

Pour the water into a small saucepan and add the 2 sticks of cinnamon. Cover and bring it to a simmer, then turn the heat down to medium and let it simmer for about one minute.

Turn the heat off and add the tea bags, then cover again. Let the tea steep in the hot water or 5-7 minutes.

Add milk and warm up

Remove the tea bags and pour the 1 cup of milk, vanilla extract and maple syrup into the saucepan, then stir to combine.

Briefly heat up until steamy hot, then serve. You can pour in 2 small mugs or one larger. Add a pinch of cinnamon powder over your drink if you want, enjoy!

In process picture: simmer cinnamon in water.

Helpful tips

Adjust sweetness to your preference! If you use a plant milk that's already a little sweet, then you might not need extra maple syrup.
If too much water evaporated while simmering, then you can add a little more.
Adjust the steeping time depending on your taste. In general, the longer you steep tea, the stronger it will taste. Just be careful not to steep it for too long as some tea can turn bitter over time. For a strong black tea flavor, then add an extra tea bag instead of steeping the tea for longer to keep the flavor smooth.

How can I make a cinnamon milk tea with tapioca pearl (Boba, Bubble tea)?

You can easily make a delicious sweet cinnamon bubble tea following this recipe. Here is how to make it:

Prepare the sweet cinnamon milk tea as described. But in that case, once you add the milk, maple syrup and vanilla to the small saucepan, do not heat it up but instead, stir and place in the fridge until ready to use.
While the cinnamon milk tea is cooling down, then cook the tapioca balls according to your packaging. You can check out my chocolate boba recipe to see how I do this.
To serve: transfer the chewy boba to your tall serving glass, then add some ice cubes and pour the cinnamon milk tea over. Enjoy!

View on a cup of cinnamon milk tea with some maple syrup on the side.

What type of tea should I use?

I think black tea is the best tea choice for this sweet cinnamon milk tea. I used caffeinated English breakfast. Although I love its unique flavor, I think Earl Grey black tea would overpower the cinnamon flavor in this case, but still worth a try if that's all you have.

Other kinds of tea to choose from include Oolong tea (more vegetal and bright flavor) or white tea (lighter flavor). I would avoid green tea in this case.

If looking for a non-caffeinated drink, then you can steep rooibos tea, herbal tea or choose a decaf black tea brand.

Variations

This spiced milk tea recipe is so versatile, there are endless variations you can make! Here are a few ideas:

Spices: you can add different flavors by including different spices. Nutmeg, cardamom, ground ginger and cloves would all be great additions. A chai spice mix or pumpkin spice mix would work well too!
Ultra-rich: to bring your drink to the next level, then make it using coconut milk (not the can, use the refrigerated boxed coconut milk). Soy milk also is usually higher in fat and would add more creaminess to your drink.
Without cinnamon sticks: you can make this recipe using ground cinnamon instead of cinnamon sticks. Start with ½ teaspoon and add more if needed.
Latte: you can warm up the milk (with sweetener and vanilla) apart, then froth using an electric hand-held frother or a milk frother. To serve, pour cinnamon tea into your mug, then top it off with the frothed sweet milk.

View on a cinnamon milk tea made dairy-free.

FAQs

Can I serve this recipe cold?

Yes! Simply make the cinnamon black tea as described, then pour the cold milk, sweetener and vanilla in the saucepan and do not warm it up. Pour over ice cubes in a tall glass. Delicious in the summer!

Is this recipe healthy?

Yes! Black tea is packed with antioxidants (polyphenols) and although may give you a boost of energy, it contains less caffeine than coffee. Drinking black tea regularly has been linked to reducing the risk of developing some cancers and arteriosclerosis.

As a side note, cinnamon not only brings amazing flavor to this warm drink but also has lots of health benefits and is packed with antioxidants. Some research suggests that it can reduce the inflammation in your body, lower blood pressure and can help support your sugar levels.

Can I make this tea ahead of time?

Yes! You can make a bigger batch and keep it in an airtight container or a glass jar in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Reheat on the stove or use the microwave.

Can I use black tea leaves to make it?

Yes, simply use a French press or strain the leaves with a fine mesh colander before adding the milk to the saucepan.

Similar recipes to try

I hope you like this cinnamon milk tea recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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