Pour boiling water over the tea in a heat resistant glass. Let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove or strain the leaves. If you add tapioca, reserve 1/4 cup of the tea.
Add the syrup to the hot tea and stir to dissolve.
Add milk and enjoy hot, or chill the tea / milk if adding tapioca.
If you add tapioca balls:
Bring the water to a boil and add the tapioca balls. Cook according to package directions.
Mix 1/4 cup of brewed tea with syrup or sugar.
Add the tapioca balls to the tea / sugar mixture and steep for at least 10 minutes.
Remove the tapioca balls and add them to a cup of cold tea.
Add ice to the milk tea / tapioca ball mixture if desired.