The floral flavor of rose is balanced by creamy vanilla and earthy rooibos in this 5-minute caffeine free rose latte recipe.
Normally I’m not a huge fan of floral flavors like rose or lavender, but this subtly floral rose milk tea is surprisingly mellow. The addition of almond milk or cream helps with that, and the vanilla and rooibos add complexity.
It’s a feminine drink with a surprising balance of earthy and floral flavors and creamy texture. And you can use a little beet root powder if you want to make it pink.
I’ve seen a lot of rose tea latte recipes with earl grey tea or matcha tea. I like to use rooibos, which is a caffeine free herbal tea that has a slightly sweet and fruity flavor and a mild aroma.
Keeping this drink caffeine free means that you can enjoy it in the evening. Make it party of your nightly routine as you relax and unwind from the day.
Are Rose Petals Toxic to Humans?
I spent a significant amount of time living in different areas of the Middle East (Kuwait, Jordan, and Syria). And during this time I discovered the delicately refreshing flavor of rose in drinks and desserts when it's used in moderation. Various forms of rose are used in cooking there, including rose water and dried petals and rose buds.
Certain varieties of rose are edible, but make sure you buy organic (because you don’t want to ingest chemicals and pesticides). On Amazon, I buy this brand of rose water and this brand of rose buds and rose petals.
How Do You Make Tea From Rose Buds?
In its most basic form, dried rose petals or rose buds are steeped with near-boiling water to make a floral tea-like drink. But this drink is actually not tea; the technical term for it is a “tisane”.
Of course you can steep dried rose along with some form of tea in very hot water, and then it becomes rose-flavored tea!
Rose Milk Tea
To make rose milk tea is, rose petals act as tea leaves and are either steeped in water and combined with some type of milk, or steeped in milk directly.
There are two ways you can make rose milk tea:
- Steep rosebuds in water and add foamed milk, or
- Steep rosebuds in hot milk.
You can add beet root powder to make it pink, and flavorings, such as vanilla or rose water. It's delicious served chilled over ice, or warm as a soothing beverage.
Does Rose Milk Tea Have Caffeine?
Rosebuds, rose petals, and rose water don’t have caffeine, so rose drinks only have caffeine if you add tea that contains caffeine, such as earl grey tea or matcha.
The Best Easy Rose Latte Recipe
This isn't a recipe for rose coffee, although you could easily use a shot of espresso here to make rose coffee. Instead, this rooibos tea-based latte is more softly flavored and naturally caffeine free.
What's in a Rose Latte?
In this rose latte recipe, I include the following ingredients, many of which are available on Amazon:
- Boiling water - to steep the tea
- Rooibos tea - a naturally caffeine free herbal tea with an earthy vanilla taste
- Culinary-grade dried rose petals - for infusing the tea and for decorating the top
- Pure vanilla extract - to enhance the flavor of vanilla
- Honey - subtly enhances the floral notes while adding sweetness; or use your sweetener of choice
- Plain unsweetened almond milk - to add creaminess; or you can use regular milk, cream, or coconut milk to make it decadent and rich
Pro Tip
For this recipe, you can swap out the rooibos for any kind of tea you think would pair well with the flavor of rose. Earl grey is another great option (but it contains caffeine).
How Do You Make a Rose Latte?
- Steep the rooibos tea bag and rose petals in water for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and strain out the petals.
- Stir in the vanilla, honey, and warm frothy almond milk.
- Serve warm.
Variations on This Recipe
- Vegan Rose Latte: Use a vegan sweetener (such as maple syrup, simple syrup, agave nectar, sugar, etc.) and vegan milk (such as almond milk, coconut milk, etc.).
- Low Carb and Keto Rose Latte: Use stevia or another keto sweetener (such as allulose or monk fruit) and heavy whipping cream or canned unsweetened full-fat coconut milk.
Starbucks Blossoming Rose Tea Latte
In 2018 in Canada, Starbucks released the Teavana™ Blossoming Rose Tea Latte. Here’s what Starbucks Stories said about it:
Inspired by Japanese sakura tea, a rose syrup was created that’s reminiscent of rose water and added rhubarb bitters and a hint of strawberry jam. The blossoming rose flavor pairs perfectly with the natural red-hue of rooibos tea but can be added to black and matcha tea as well. This latte looks as luscious as it tastes thanks to naturally flavored rose and hibiscus crystals delicately sprinkled on top for a fabulous floral finish. Available in participating stores in Canada.
More Unique Latte Recipes
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Creamy Rose Latte Recipe with Vanilla
Ingredients
- ¾ cup boiling water
- 1 rooibos tea bag unflavored
- 1 tablespoon culinary-grade dried rose petals plus more for topping if desired
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon honey or sweetener of choice to taste
- ¼ cup plain unsweetened almond milk warmed and whisked until frothy
Instructions
- Steep the rooibos tea bag and rose petals in the water for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and strain out the petals.
- Stir in the vanilla, honey, and warm frothy almond milk. If desired, top with a little crushed dried rosebuds.
- Serve immediately.
Faith's Tips
- Vegan Version: Use a vegan sweetener (such as maple syrup, simple syrup, agave nectar, sugar, etc.) and vegan milk (such as almond milk, coconut milk, etc.).
- Low Carb and Keto Version: Use stevia or another keto sweetener (such as allulose or monk fruit) and heavy whipping cream or canned unsweetened full-fat coconut milk.
- To Make This Drink Pink: Add a little beet root powder. Start with ⅛ teaspoon and work up from there.
Nutrition
Arthur says
Yummy!