Thai Iced Tea Recipe

// Thai Iced Tea Recipe is a concentrated spice infused, and flavorsome tea which comes with a creamy texture and sweet aromatic taste.



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Learn to make Thai Iced Tea Recipe with a quick video tutorial. Thai Iced Tea is a concentrated spice infused, and flavorsome tea which comes with a creamy texture and sweet aromatic taste.

 Thai tea is poured over ice cubes and then drizzled with some sweetened condensed milk. Anyone who loves tea, or creamy sweet drinks, would love this refreshing drink.

four glasses of thai iced tea drink with ice cubes and a wooden spoon

Is it easy to make the vegan version of this Thai iced tea?

Yes, it is unconditionally an easy job. All you have to do is to swap sweetened condensed milk for coconut condensed milk. Rest of the recipe will remain the same. You can also try this vegan version even if you are not vegan yourself because it tastes incredibly different and delish with the touch of coconut.

When and where did I first savor my Thai Iced Tea?

I had my first Thai iced tea at a local renowned Thai restaurant when one day I visited it with a couple of friends. We all were looking for something different and new to try and then we went for this Thai Iced Tea along with Thai food.  This tea was double sweetened with sugar and sweetened condensed milk. A spice and dessert lover in me went crazy right after the first sip I took then. It was the ‘love at first sip’.

Related: Kesar Masala Tea

a pitcher pouring thai iced tea into a glass of iced coffee

How does Thai iced tea taste?

It tastes like a dessert in the form of liquid. It is sugary and has a piquant spicy aftertaste. Any spice and dessert lover would adore this drink. This spicy dessert glass surely helps soothe the burn coming after the overloading the spicy Thai food or any other spicy meal.  

How easy is it to make Thai Iced tea?

Making your own Thai iced tea at home is unexpectedly easy. You can make it anytime without much hassle. You simply steep the tea, strain and pour over ice cubes.

Related: How to Make Rose Tea

someone is pouring thai iced tea drink into a glass with ice

Thailand is well known for a number of famous beverages worldwide. But this drink ‘Cha Yen’ which is the literal translation of the Thai Iced Tea, tops all. Thai iced tea is served at restaurants globally and loved by everyone.

I assume that the creamy dessert like sweetness makes this refreshing beverage dreamy and desirable everywhere. The exclusive creamy character and sweetness from condensed milk are so diverse from any normal cup of black tea. Definitely, this iced tea is so loved.

Related: Green Tea Watermelon Detox Smoothie

three glasses of thai iced tea drink on a table

Is it easy to get Thai tea (leaves) everywhere?

You can get Thai tea at an Asian grocery store. But I also agree that getting the Thai tea bags everywhere is not so easy. But Thai Iced Tea lovers found a solution to recreate this tea at home.

To get perfect Thai tea blend, you’ll only need some loose black tea leaves and then you add a few spices to it while boiling.

What is the difference between Thai iced tea and Black tea?

Regular black tea is mild — not creamy and not too sweet. Thai iced tea is a divine treat which has the creamy texture and a flavourful sweet taste. The other major difference between Thai tea and black tea is that Thai tea has that signature orange color.

Whereas, when you use black tea you won’t get that significant orange color you get in Thai Iced Tea.

Related: Kashmiri Pink Chai

many glasses of thai iced tea on a table

Love iced tea? Then you would also like this Mango Iced Tea.

Why is Thai Iced Tea orange in color?

If you have ever been to Thailand and had Thai iced tea on the streets, then you know that the tea is always orange in color. Like you, I have also always wondered why this tea has so intense orange color. The reason is that the mix of Thai tea includes some yellow food color.

Is it necessary to add evaporated milk to Thai Iced Tea?

No, it’s not. Some people like to add evaporated milk along with sweetened condensed milk. Evaporated milk is like an unsweetened heavy cream. So the addition of evaporated milk makes this Thai iced tea super creamy and milky.

I don’t like Thai iced tea overly creamy, so I don’t add evaporated milk. But if you like your tea super creamy and milky, then surely add evaporated milk.

four glasses of thai iced tea on a table with ice cubes

What is the right way to steep?

You can steep this tea in a teapot, in a pan, or you can simply use a tea sock for steeping. The one thing which is important to remember is to always use hot water if you are not boiling it in a pan.

You just leave tea leaves in hot water, steep for a few minutes until you see that deep color. Let it cool and strain the tea leaves out.

Can I use black tea bags instead of loose tea leaves?

Yes, definitely you can use black tea bags. Replace 1 tbsp tea leaves with 3 tea bags. You can even make it caffeine free.

Is this tea prepared hot or cold?

Thai iced tea is usually prepared hot and yet it’s polished off cold on the crushed ice. The hot tea is poured over a cup filled with ice cubes or crushed ice. You can either use hot tea or let it cool before serving the way I did.

Related: Vanilla Iced Mocha With Coffee Ice Cubes

three glasses of thai iced tea drink with ice and a pitcher

What is there to love about Thai Iced tea?

This iced tea is so refreshing on a hot day. I can basically sip this delicious drink called Thai iced tea all summer long. Spices such as star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom add warm spicy aroma to the iced tea.


Thai Iced Tea Recipe (Step-by-step photo instructions)

Making Thai Iced Tea:

  1. Add water to a medium saucepan.
  2. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-1 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  3. Add tea leaves, sugar, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, and green cardamom.
  4. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-2 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  5. Stir well and bring the water to a boil.
  6. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-3 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  7. Boil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
  8. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-4 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  9. Once boiled, turn off the heat and cover with the lid. Allow tea to steep for at least 30 minutes and let it cool to room temperature.
  10. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-5 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  11. Once cooled strain tea in a pitcher. You can make this tea ahead of time a refrigerate in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  12. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-6 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe

To serve:

  1. Fill tall glasses with crushed ice or ice cubes.
  2. Image of the recipe cooking step-2-1 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  3. Pour in Thai tea leaving enough room or till each glass 3/4 of the way full with tea.
  4. Image of the recipe cooking step-2-2 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  5. Drizzle with one tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk to each glass.
  6. Image of the recipe cooking step-2-3 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  7. Stir well to combine.
  8. Image of the recipe cooking step-2-4 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  9. Serve Thai Iced Tea immediately with some cookies or snacks.
  10. Image of the recipe cooking step-2-5 for Thai Iced Tea Recipe

Recipe Card


Thai Iced Tea Recipe [Recipe]

Recipe Image
Thai Iced Tea Recipe is a concentrated spice infused, and flavorsome tea which comes with a creamy texture and sweet aromatic taste.
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 83 reviews)

Prep time 🕐 Cook time 🕐 Total time 🕐
10 mins
Category ☶ Cuisine ♨ Serves ☺
Drinks Asian 4
Nutrition Info ⊛ Serving size ⊚
65 calories 1 Serving

INGREDIENTS

Thai Iced Tea:
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons red thai tea mix, or loose black tea (you can also use 6 black tea bags)
  • 2 star anise (chakr phool)
  • 2 whole cloves (laung)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (shakkar)
  • 1 cinnamon stick (dalchini)
  • 4-5 green cardamom pods hari ilaichi (optional)
For Serving:

INSTRUCTIONS:

Making Thai Iced Tea:
  1. Add water to a medium saucepan.
  2. Add tea leaves, sugar, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, and green cardamom.
  3. Stir well and bring the water to a boil.
  4. Boil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
  5. Once boiled, turn off the heat and cover with the lid. Allow tea to steep for at least 30 minutes and let it cool to room temperature.
  6. Once cooled strain tea in a pitcher. You can make this tea ahead of time a refrigerate in the fridge for up to 1 week.
To serve:
  1. Fill tall glasses with crushed ice or ice cubes.
  2. Pour in Thai tea leaving enough room or till each glass 3/4 of the way full with tea.
  3. Drizzle with one tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk to each glass.
  4. Stir well to combine.
  5. Serve Thai Iced Tea immediately with some cookies or snacks.

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NOTES:

  1. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.


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