Table of Contents
OSULLOC milk tea sticks are instant, sweetened powders that make a cafe-style milk tea in a minute. There are four: Original, built on Jeju post-fermented tea; Jeju Matcha; Jeju Hojicha (roasted tea); and Earl Grey, plus a dairy-free Jeju Matcha Oat Blend. Each stick works three ways: 140 to 150 ml of hot water, dissolved in a splash of hot water then topped with cold water and ice, or 160 to 170 ml of milk.
Stick milk teas are a Korean convenience-store staple, and OSULLOC's are the ones people bring home from Jeju because the matcha and hojicha come from the brand's own fields, which, as Amorepacific tells it, OSULLOC began cultivating in 1979. They are not the same thing as the brand's tea bags: these are complete drinks with milk powders and sugar already in the stick. This guide compares the flavors and shows how to make each one, from the directions on OSULLOC's product pages.
At Daebak, a Seoul-based Korean culture and product company, OSULLOC is the most-ordered brand among the brand-shipped products in our shop, and the sticks are a frequent question from people who want "that Korean milk tea" without a cafe.
The four sticks at a glance
| Stick | Tea base | Taste | Dairy | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Milk Tea | Organic Jeju post-fermented tea powder | Classic sweet milk tea; mellow, no bitterness | Yes (milk, whey); contains soy and wheat | Yes |
| Jeju Matcha Milk Tea | Jeju matcha powder | Green tea latte; grassy-sweet | Yes | Yes |
| Jeju Hojicha Milk Tea | Hojicha (roasted green tea) powder and extract | Roasted, toasty, vanilla note; the least "green" | Yes | Yes, lower than matcha |
| Earl Grey Milk Tea | Black tea extract and powder with bergamot | London-fog style; citrus-floral | Yes | Yes |
| Jeju Matcha Oat Blend | Jeju green tea with oat, almond, coconut, soy | Nutty, savory, gently sweet | No dairy (contains soy; made in a facility that handles milk and nuts) | Yes |
All five are sweetened. If you want an unsweetened matcha drink, use Organic Premium Matcha Powder instead; the difference between matcha and green tea powder is explained in Korean Matcha vs Japanese Matcha.
How to make them
The three methods are the same across the range; only the water amounts differ slightly by stick. Follow the box if it disagrees with this table.
| Hot | Iced | With milk | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original, Earl Grey | 1 stick + 150 ml hot water | Dissolve in 20 ml hot water, add 100 ml cold water and ice | 1 stick + 170 ml warm milk |
| Jeju Matcha, Jeju Hojicha | 1 stick + 140 ml hot water | Dissolve in 20 ml hot water, add 100 ml cold water and ice | 1 stick + 160 ml milk |
| Matcha Oat Blend | 1 stick + 140 ml warm water | Dissolve in 20 ml water, add 100 ml cold water | 1 stick + 160 ml oat or soy milk |
The iced method matters: dissolve the powder in a little hot water first, otherwise it clumps in cold liquid. The milk method makes the richest cup and is how Korean cafes serve it.
OSULLOC Jeju Matcha Milk Tea. See details.
Which one to pick
- You want the classic Korean milk tea: Original. Its base is the same Jeju post-fermented tea behind Honey Pear and Moon Walk, so it tastes like OSULLOC rather than like a generic black milk tea.
- You order matcha lattes: Jeju Matcha. Sweeter than a cafe latte made from powder; use the milk method for the closest result.
- You find matcha too green: Jeju Hojicha. Roasting removes the grassiness and most of the bitterness, and the vanilla note makes it the dessert-like one.
- You like Earl Grey or a London fog: Earl Grey. Bergamot plus milk; the most Western-tasting of the four.
- You avoid dairy: Matcha Oat Blend, made with oat milk or soy milk. Check the allergen line, since it contains soy and is made alongside milk and nuts.
OSULLOC Jeju Hojicha Milk Tea. See details.
What is actually in a stick
Each stick is mostly sugar, milk powders (skim milk, whey, cream) and a creamer base, with the tea powder or extract providing the flavor; the Original lists organic post-fermented tea powder, the Matcha and Hojicha sticks list Jeju tea powder and extract, and the Earl Grey lists black tea extract, black tea powder and natural bergamot flavor. Treat them as a cafe drink, not as a cup of tea. If you want the tea itself, the leaf versions are in the OSULLOC Tea Guide, with brewing in How to Brew OSULLOC Tea.
Where the milk tea habit comes from
Milk tea in Korea is a cafe drink first: OSULLOC's own tea houses, which Amorepacific says include the Tea Museum on Jeju and a flagship in Bukchon, Seoul, serve matcha and hojicha lattes, and the sticks are the take-home version of that menu. The matcha in them is the same shade-grown Jeju matcha the brand sells as powder, and the renewed Tea Museum bakery even builds its desserts around OSULLOC matcha, according to Amorepacific's 2023 announcement. If you visit, our museum guide has the details.
OSULLOC products in our shop are brand-shipped. For a seasonal mix of Korean snacks, drinks and goods chosen for you, the Daebak Box is a separate, curated option.
FAQ
Are OSULLOC milk tea sticks sweet?
Yes. Sugar is the first ingredient in each; they are made to taste like a cafe milk tea without adding anything.
Which OSULLOC milk tea should I start with?
Jeju Matcha if you like green tea lattes, Original if you want a classic Korean milk tea, Hojicha if you prefer roasted, dessert-like flavors.
Can I make OSULLOC milk tea with cold milk?
Dissolve the stick in about 20 ml of hot water first, then add cold milk and ice. Straight into cold milk it clumps.
Do the sticks contain caffeine?
Yes, from the tea in them. Hojicha is roasted and generally lower in caffeine than matcha, but none of the sticks is caffeine-free.
Is there a dairy-free OSULLOC milk tea?
The Jeju Matcha Oat Blend uses a plant-based creamer and is made for oat or soy milk. It contains soy and is produced in a facility that also handles milk.
This guide is part of the OSULLOC hub, which lists every Daebak guide on OSULLOC.
