Thai Iced Tea

Thai Iced Tea, also known as “Cha Yen” in Thai, is a beloved beverage that perfectly balances sweet, creamy, and spicy flavors.

What is a Thai Iced Tea?

Originating from Thailand, this vibrant orange drink has gained popularity worldwide for its unique flavor and refreshing qualities. Combining Thai tea mix with rich sweetened condensed milk and aromatic spices, Thai Iced Tea offers a vibrant orange color and a delicious fusion of flavors that tantalize the taste buds.

Ingredients For a Thai Iced Tea

The ingredients are simple to create this delicious street food drink with a diversity of flavors and aromas.

• Thai Tea Mix: Thai Tea Mix is a combination of loose black tea leaves, food dye for a bright orange color, and various spices.  

• Water: Boiling water is key to being able to make our tea and obtain all its properties.

• Granulated Sugar: This is optional depending on whether you use condensed milk and your preference for sweets.

• Milk: You have the option of using condensed milk, whole milk, or half and half of both, as well as coconut or soy milk depending on your preference for lactose, what we are looking for is to give a creamy touch to our tea.

(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

How to Make a Thai Iced Tea?

1.- Boil water: Start by boiling 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan over high heat.

2.- Steeped Tea: Once the water boils, remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the Thai tea bags to the hot water, making sure they are completely submerged. Let the tea bags steep for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the water turns a deep orange color and the tea is thoroughly brewed.

3.- Strain the tea: After steeping, carefully remove the tea bags from the saucepan, gently pressing them against the side of the saucepan with a spoon to extract excess liquid. Alternatively, you can strain the tea through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a heatproof pitcher or bowl, discarding the tea bags.

4.- Finally: Fill a cup with plenty of ice and pour the prepared and cooled tea, add some granulated sugar, fill the glass with milk, stir to combine, and garnish with vanilla bean or a cinnamon stick optional.

Variation of a Thai Iced Tea

This recipe you can find it in most Thai restaurants. I love this type of tea because of how refreshing it is and its peculiar flavor of well-balanced spices. Here are some variations of this wonderful recipe!

But first, check out these recipes that you will surely love! Lychee Boba Tea, Red Iced Tea, and Peach Smoothie.

Thai Coconut Iced Tea: Substitute coconut milk for evaporated milk for a tropical, dairy-free twist on the classic recipe. The creamy coconut milk adds a delicious richness and pairs perfectly with the aromatic spices.

Less sweet: If you prefer your Thai iced tea to be less sweet, reduce the amount of condensed milk and granulated sugar based on your flavor preferences. You can start by using half the recommended amount and adjust as needed.

Stronger spices: For a bolder spicy flavor, consider adding a cardamom pod, vanilla bean, cloves, or anise stars to the tea mixture prepared along with the tea bags by using a tea sock filter. Avoid overloading the drink with spices; a subtle hint is ideal.

Suggestion to serve with a Thai Iced Tea

Pairing Thai iced tea with complementary dishes can enhance the overall dining experience, creating a harmony of flavors that tantalize the taste buds. Here are some delicious pairing ideas to increase your enjoyment of this refreshing drink:

Thai Cuisine: Since Thai iced tea originates from Thailand, it pairs exceptionally well with various Thai dishes. Consider serving it alongside classics like Pad Thai, Green Curry, Massaman Curry, Tom Yum Soup, or Thai Spring Rolls. The sweet, creamy flavors of the tea balance the spicy, spicy, and salty elements of these dishes, creating a delicious contrast.

Spicy Foods: The creamy sweetness of Thai iced tea provides a refreshing contrast to spicy dishes. Pair it with spicy cuisine from other regions, like Indian curries, Mexican enchiladas, or Sichuan stir-fries. The calming qualities of tea help control heat and complement the complex flavors of spicy food.

Desserts: Thai iced tea is a fantastic accompaniment to desserts, especially those with caramel, coconut, or tropical fruit flavors. Serve with desserts like mango sticky rice, coconut ice cream, flan, or caramel custard. The creamy texture of the tea enhances the richness of desserts, creating a satisfyingly sweet finish to your meal.

When to Serve a Thai Iced Tea?

Thai iced tea is a versatile drink that can be enjoyed at different times and occasions, offering a refreshing and tasty drink option for different settings. Here are some suggestions for when to serve this recipe:

During hot weather: The recipe is particularly refreshing on hot summer days when you need a refreshing drink to quench your thirst and beat the heat. Serve it at outdoor gatherings, barbecues, picnics, or pool parties to give guests a refreshing and tasty drink option.

With Thai Foods: This drink is a classic accompaniment to Thai cuisine and is often served alongside traditional Thai dishes. Enjoy it with a tasty Thai dinner at home or serve it in Thai restaurants to complement spicy, savory, and aromatic Thai dishes such as curries, stir-fries, noodles, and soups.

At social gatherings: The recipe is a crowd-pleaser at social gatherings, parties, and celebrations. Whether you’re hosting a casual get-together with friends or a festive occasion like a birthday party or holiday gathering, serving Thai iced tea adds a touch of exotic flair to the beverage menu and ensures guests have a refreshing and delicious option to enjoy.

Brunch or breakfast events: The drink can be served at brunch or breakfast events along with other brunch drinks such as coffee, tea, and fruit juices. Pair it with a variety of brunch favorites like pancakes, waffles, pastries, fruit salad, and breakfast casseroles for a delicious morning or midday meal.

As a dessert drink: The sweet and creamy flavor profile of Thai tea makes it a perfect dessert drink option. Serve it after dinner as a refreshing palate cleanser or alongside delicious desserts such as cakes, pies, puddings, or ice cream. The creamy sweetness of the tea complements the richness of the desserts, creating a satisfying end to the meal.

Notes:

To ensure your tea turns out perfect every time and provides an authentic taste experience, consider the following tips:

Use high-quality tea: Start with Thai tea leaves or black tea bags designed specifically for brewing Thai iced tea. The quality of the tea will significantly affect the taste of the final drink.

Adjust the sweetness: Thai iced tea is traditionally quite sweet, but you can adjust the sweetness level to suit your taste. Add condensed milk and sugar as appropriate. Remember that the sweetness may intensify once the tea cools, so you may want to reduce it slightly if serving it over ice.

Balance of creaminess: Achieve the perfect balance of creaminess by using a combination of sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. This combination adds richness and flavor to the tea while ensuring it is not too heavy.

Garnish creatively: Garnish each glass of Thai iced tea with a pinch of ground cinnamon, star anise, or a wedge of lime for an extra touch of flavor and visual appeal. You can also add a sprig of fresh mint for a touch of freshness.

Continue to Content

Yield: 4

Thai Iced Tea

Print

Thai Iced Tea, also known as "Cha Yen" in Thai, is a beloved beverage that perfectly balances sweet, creamy, and spicy flavors.

Prep Time 3 minutes

Cook Time 7 minutes

Total Time 7 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Thai tea mix.
• 2 cups water.
• ½ cup granulated sugar.
• 1/2 cup condensed milk optional.
• 1/2 cup whole milk or any other kind of your preference.
• 2 cups of ice.
• Garnish with vanilla bean, cinnamon ground or a cinnamon stick.

Instructions

1. Boil water: Start by boiling 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan over high heat.
2. Steeped Tea: Once the water boils, remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the Thai tea bag to the hot water, making sure they are completely submerged. Let the tea bags steep for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the water turns a deep orange color and the tea is thoroughly brewed.
3. Strain the tea: After steeping, carefully remove the tea bags from the saucepan, gently pressing them against the side of the saucepan with a spoon to extract excess liquid. Alternatively, you can strain the tea through a fine-mesh strainer cheesecloth into a heatproof pitcher or bowl, discarding the tea bags.
4. Finally: Fill a cup with plenty of ice and add the prepared and cooled tea, add some granulated sugar, fill the glass with milk, stir to combine, and garnish with vanilla bean or stick of cinnamon optional.

 

 

 

 

Notes

• Use high-quality tea: Start with high-quality Thai tea leaves or black tea bags designed specifically for brewing Thai iced tea. The quality of the tea will significantly affect the taste of the final drink.
• Adjust the sweetness: Thai iced tea is traditionally quite sweet, but you can adjust the sweetness level to suit your taste. Add condensed milk and sugar as appropriate. Keep in mind that the sweetness may intensify once the tea cools, so you may want to reduce it slightly if serving it over ice.
• Balance of creaminess: Achieve the perfect balance of creaminess by using a combination of sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. This combination adds richness and depth of flavor to the tea while ensuring that it is not too heavy.
• Garnish creatively: Garnish each glass of Thai iced tea with a pinch of ground cinnamon, star anise, or a wedge of lime for an extra touch of flavor and visual appeal. You can also add a sprig of fresh mint for a touch of freshness.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

4
Amount Per Serving Calories 415Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 38mgSodium 145mgCarbohydrates 74gFiber 1gSugar 73gProtein 8g

Nutrition information isn´t always accurate!

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