Quick Answer
Winter melon tea is a drink made from winter melon and sugar cooked down over a long time. Despite the name, it contains no tea leaves, so it has no caffeine. According to Chinese Wikipedia, it has been drunk in Taiwan for more than a hundred years and, with sugarcane juice and herbal tea, is one of Taiwan’s classic old-fashioned cold drinks. Homes often boil winter melon sugar bricks with water; bubble tea shops mostly use winter melon syrup, diluted directly or made into winter melon lemonade and winter melon milk.
What Is Winter Melon Tea Made Of?
According to Chinese Wikipedia’s “winter melon tea” article, the main ingredients are:
- Winter melon
- Sugar
- Water
- Caramel (for color and aroma)
Cooking winter melon and sugar together for a long time concentrates the sugar and develops a distinctive caramel aroma; once cooled, it becomes winter melon tea.
Does Winter Melon Tea Have Caffeine?
No. The “tea” refers to the type of drink, not tea leaves. With no tea leaves, winter melon tea itself is caffeine-free, which suits customers who don’t drink tea. But if a shop mixes it with black or green tea (for example winter melon black tea), that drink will contain tea’s caffeine.
How to Make Winter Melon Tea from Sugar Bricks
Wikipedia describes two methods:
| Method | How |
|---|---|
| Boil directly | Boil a 600g winter melon sugar brick in 4,500–5,000ml of cold water for 20–30 minutes |
| Make a concentrate, then dilute | Cook the brick with water into a concentrated syrup, then mix 1 part syrup to 5 parts water |
Adjust ratios to taste; for commercial bricks, follow the pack instructions.
How Bubble Tea Shops Use Winter Melon
- Winter melon tea (plain): winter melon syrup diluted with water, over ice.
- Winter melon lemonade: winter melon tea with lemon juice, sweet-tart and refreshing, a classic; see How to Make Winter Melon Lemonade.
- Winter melon milk: winter melon tea with fresh milk, a milk drink with caramel notes.
- Winter melon black or green tea: winter melon in place of regular sugar for extra aroma (contains tea’s caffeine).
Why Do Shops Use Winter Melon Syrup?
Boiling sugar bricks takes time and labor and strength varies by batch; winter melon syrup can be weighed and diluted directly for consistent flavor in every cup and faster service.
Tang Sugar’s Winter Melon Syrup
Tang Sugar’s syrup range includes Wintermelon Syrup in 2.5kg (6 per carton) and 5kg (4 per carton) packs, plus lemon juice and other syrups for winter melon lemonade. Request samples to test it.
Products in this article
All 12 Syrups →
FAQ
What is winter melon tea made of?
Winter melon and sugar cooked with water for a long time; some methods add caramel for color and aroma.
Does winter melon tea have caffeine?
No. It contains no tea leaves, so it is caffeine-free on its own; mixed with black or green tea it will contain tea’s caffeine.
How do you make winter melon tea from a sugar brick?
One method from Wikipedia is to boil a 600g winter melon sugar brick in 4,500–5,000ml of cold water for 20–30 minutes; or make a concentrate and dilute it 1:5 with water.
Is winter melon tea actually tea?
No. It’s a drink cooked from winter melon and sugar; “tea” describes the type of drink and it contains no tea leaves.
Where can bubble tea shops buy winter melon syrup?
Usually wholesale from ingredient suppliers; it’s diluted directly or made into winter melon lemonade or milk, saving labor and giving more consistent taste than boiling bricks. Contact us for a quote.
Further Reading
- Fruit Syrup Dosage Guide for 500ml and 700ml Drinks
- Taiwan’s Bubble Tea Labeling Rules
- What Is Four Seasons Spring Tea?
- What Is a Yogurt Drink?
- How to Use Pudding and Jelly Powders
- How to Make Winter Melon Lemonade
Sources
- Wikipedia: Winter melon tea (in Chinese)
- Tang Sugar product list (March 2026 edition)
