Japanese Royal Milk Tea

ingredients

• 1 ½ teaspoons (heaping) Darjeeling tea leaves
• ½ teaspoon (heaping) Assam tea leaves
• 300 ml milk
• 100 ml water
• gum syrup (or honey), to taste

instructions

• Measure the tea leaves into a very small bowl. Add in just enough boiling water to thoroughly cover the leaves. Let this sit to open up the leaves. 
• (Hot version: preheat tea cups by filling with hot water.)
• Heat milk and water in a small pot over medium heat. Just before it begins to boil, add in the moistened tea leaves and turn off the heat. Stir with a spoon to mix. 
• Cover the pot and allow it to steep for 4 minutes if you will drink it hot, or 5  minutes if you will drink it iced.
• Give it another stir, then strain the milk tea into a bowl or measuring cup that has an easy pour spout. Sweeten the tea to your taste preference.
• Hot version: Empty hot water from tea cups and fill with prepared royal milk tea.
• Cold version: Chill in fridge until cool enough to serve over ice.