What Is Thai Milk Tea Made From
Thai milk tea is made using Thai Milk Tea Mix which should be differentiated from Thai Green tea Mix which is for a totally different drink.
Thai Milk Tea Mix contains a blend of herbs and spices and coloring that make Thai Tea somewhat unique. It is ready mixed tea with herbs and spices which makes it easier to make the drink and there are several brands with slightly different taste profiles.
After the tea is brewed a mix of evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk is mixed together and added to the brewed tea together with sugar and creamer into a glass filled with ice. On top of that, frothed evaporated milk is added!
For an added twist you can also replace the condensed milk with coconut cream or part coconut cream and coconut milk for a different tasting, but equally creamy tea.
Thai Iced Tea Recipe Authentic Street Food Style
Thailand has produced a number of worldwide famous beverages:
Red Bull and Singha area few of the most well known, but theres no drink more famous than Cha Yen , or known throughout the world simply as Thai iced tea.
This sweet creamy beverage, that hardly even resembles a regular cup of black tea, is loved in Thailand and served at Thai restaurants around worldwide.
If you enjoy sweet and creamy drinks, theres hardly a more refreshing and drink option available for you.
Thai tea brand Cha Dra Muer
In Thailand, youll find countless vendors selling Thai tea on the streets, either from stables street stands and often from mobile motorbike drink carts.
Many of the cha yen vendors, use a brand of tea that comes in a red and white bag known as Cha Dra Muer or its just known as Number One Brand.
When I was in the US, at the Asian supermarket, I do remember seeing this same brand of tea, so I believe it is available if you live in a major city with an access to a large Asian supermarket.
If not, I think you can make this recipe with any black tea .
Yes, I accidentally opened the condensed milk from the bottom.
For this Thai iced tea recipe, youll need both sweetened condensed milk, and also evaporated milk.
Sweetened condensed milk is thick and sweet, almost like a syrup, while evaporated milk is like heavy cream, and is unsweetened.
Both come in a can, and the most popular version in Thailand is made by Carnation, though there are a number of other brands as well.
How Many Tea Bags Should I Use Since I Dont Have Loose Tea
If you dont have loose leaf tea or if you prefer the simpler routine of a ready-made tea bag, then just use one teabag per 8oz cup in place of loose leaf. You can also make your tea drinking even easier and environmentally friendly by choosingTea Drops organic teas. One drop in the bottom of your cup and you have the perfect fuss-free brew.
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What Is Thai Milk Tea
Thai Milk Tea is a sweet, caffeinated drink originating from Thailand. It has become a very popular drink abroad too, with Thai restaurant serving it across the globe.
Thai bubble tea is made with a Thai Tea base with brown sugar, then mixed with condensed milk and topped with evaporated milk. Tapioca pearls can also be added for extra texture and chewiness.
The drink is always served cold, so ice cubes are a must. Thai iced milk tea is incredibly refreshing on a hot summers day!
How Can You Make Thai Tea Dairy
Just as you might enjoy coffee black, you can choose to enjoy Thai tea on its own without the added creaminess of condensed milk. However, if youd like to recreate that creaminess of classic Thai tea, try using coconut milk for that subtly sweet creaminess. If using oat, almond, soy or other alternative milks, you might want to add a sweetener.
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What Is Thai Iced Tea
Let’s start with the tea leaves, what is Thai tea leaves? Thai tea leaves are black tea leaves, commonly assam tea, that has had flavour added to it. This flavour is usually vanilla. The iconic orange colour is nothing but orange food colouring. I know…it’s not the exotic tea made from secret Thai ingredients that you might have thought. But that doesn’t make it any less delicious!
So the popular Thai iced tea is brewed from Thai tea leaves, and usually has sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk added for creaminess and sweetness. There are other kinds of iced teas made from Thai tea leaves, such as this Thai lime iced tea that is super refreshing and is actually my personal favourite!
Thai Boba Tea From Mix
You will need a Thai iced tea mix to start with. They come with all of the spices and coloring already mixed in so you dont need to worry about getting the balances right. You will only need a couple simple ingredients to add in.
Next, make sure you have milk or half-and-half or you could even use heavy cream or sweetened condensed milk if you are looking for a thoroughly sweet and creamy drink.
Sweetener of your choice, such as agave, honey, simple syrup or even basic white table sugar are important for your boba tea as well. These will help add even more sweetness and give it the right flavor.
Ice is going to make sure that you have a cold drink. If youre looking for a hot Thai boba tea you could skip the ice and drink the tea hot, but for this recipe we will add in ice to make a traditional cold drink.
And finally, you need to have the tapioca pearls or boba. You will want to make your own boba immediately before you are planning to make your tea as they will start to dry out quickly and you will lose the chewy texture that you are looking for.
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Storing Your Thai Tea
So, this Thai milk tea recipe makes 2 servings, but you can always multiply it to serve more.
The best way to store a big batch of Thai iced tea recipe is by making it in a large covered jug over ice. If you brew tea, it’ll keep for about 24 hours.
Then, you can pour out a glass as the need arises.
I highly recommend making a huge batch of this refreshing Thai tea chilling on hot days. I mean, who doesn’t want to drink tea that is ice cold on a hot day? This delicious drink is always a huge hit if you serve it to guests!
And to make things even easier for you, you can just stir the condensed milk and tea in the jug together instead of doing it per glass.
Thai Iced Tea In Thailand Vs Western Cultures
Interestingly, the orange color and spices were added when Thai tea became more and more popular in Westernized cultures in order to set it apart from regular, plain black tea. In fact, during the early years of westernized Thai iced tea, chefs would add orange food coloring to really give it a bright orange hue.
Nowadays, youll find both versions in Thailand- the traditional and the westernized version.
The following recipe is a less traditional version of the original.
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Improves Skin And Hair
For those who want to get glowing skin and shiny hair, black tea can help you achieve both. The polyphenols and antioxidants we keep raving about do a great job at helping skin to heal and blemishes to vanish. They also help reduce puffiness and can grant your hair the nutrients it needs.
These are just a few examples of what milky tea can do for your health. If you want to know more, check out our Black Tea Benefits and our Bubble Tea 101 Guide for a more in-depth breakdown of the health benefits of drinking tea.
Thai Tea From Scratch
by Aimee Mars · This post may contain affiliate links.
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This sweet and creamy Thai Tea recipe from scratch is a decadent iced tea using real Thai spices, rich sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and real tea. Sip this beautiful bold ombré beverage to cool off or use it as an amazing contrast to spicy Thai foods. Included are directions for making a quick version like you find in your favorite Thai restaurants or stores.
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Why Is Thai Iced Tea Orange: Thailand Vs Western Cultures
The Traditional Thai tea contains black tea, crushed ice, and condensed milk. If so, then why is the drink orange? And whats up with all those spices?
The short answer is food coloring and marketing. The orange color and spices were added when Thai tea became prevalent in Westernized cultures. The intention was to differentiate it from other regular, plain black tea, hence marketing.
In the early years, chefs added orange food coloring to give the westernized iced Thai tea a bright orange color. Nowadays, youll find both the westernized and traditional versions in Thailand.
Keep in mind that when you brew the Thai tea mix, it becomes dark red. However, you get the signature bright orange color when you add milk. It turns orange because theres food coloring in the Thai tea mix.
What Makes Thai Tea Different
Thai tea can be very similar to other teas if you are comparing pure tea leaves. Many peoples idea of Thai tea is the tea which is served when you ask for Thai Iced Tea. This orange colored tea is not just tea but contains a coloring as well as spices which completely change the flavor. Added to this it is made with a lot of evaporated and condensed milk and a lot of sweetning, rather than a small amount of added cows milk as British style hot tea is served.
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Why Is Boba Orange
The truth is, in Thailand, boba tea is not orange. Its a black tea and it is drunk just like a standard black tea. In most cases, you will not find anything orange in the tea. However, in Western cultures you will often find orange food dye added to the tea in order to turn it a brilliant orange color. This is believed to be simply to differentiate the Thai tea from a standard black tea. However its not actually necessary for the flavor of the drink and actually does nothing for it.
Bring A Taste Of Thailand To Home Today
Including prep time, the total time to make this delicious tea takes no more than 10 minutes and uses just a few inexpensive ingredients. It’s a rich and flavorful tea on its own or paired with your favorite Thai food dish. It’s also customizable so you can change out the milk if you need a vegan options or choose something lighter if you’re limiting your intake of saturated fat. With these instructions, you can brew Thai iced tea as good as the stuff you can find on the streets of Bangkok. Skip the plane ticket, not the flavor.
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What Is Bubble Tea
Bubble tea is an iced milk tea with tapioca balls created in Taiwan in the 1980s. Bubble tea is also called milk tea, boba tea, or just simply boba.
Its usually made with tea, milk, sugar, and tapioca balls. While any kind of tea can be used to make bubble tea, black tea is the most popular.
The drink is served with a wide straw thats big enough for the tapioca balls to fit through. The tapioca balls are meant to be chewed, not swallowed whole.
Why You Want To Make Homemade Thai Milk Tea With Boba
Why would you even want to make this type of tea for yourself? Well, the truth is there are several reasons to consider it and definitely several more that you will find once youve had a chance to try this drink for yourself.
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How To Get The Perfect Orange Thai Iced Tea Coloring Without Food Dye
Turmeric! Believe it or not, this spice commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisines such a curry works equally well in Thai tea. Sprinkling the potent powder into your recipe will naturally dye the tea the delicious beautiful burnt orange color without the potential health consequences.
While turmeric does have a strong flavor it doesnt overpower this Thai tea mixture. It blends perfectly with the other flavorings.
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How Is Thai Tea Different From Plain Black Tea
Unlike regular black tea, Thai tea is infused with star anise and cloves and sweetened with sugar or sweetened condensed milk.
Thai tea can be made in two ways:
The recipe I am sharing here today is using a pre-made tea mix.
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Does Thai Tea Have Caffeine
This tea will have caffeine because it contains black tea. Its difficult to pinpoint the exact amount of caffeine in a Thai Tea because it varies according to how its prepared
The most common size of cup Thai Tea is served in is a 22-ounce cup. A 6-ounce cup of black tea can contain up to 70 mg of caffeine. With that in mind, a 22 ounce Thai Tea may have more caffeine because of the serving size.
Authentic Thai Tea Recipe
Years ago, my Auntie Chung was telling me how easy it was to make Thai iced tea. She had worked in an Asian restaurant and one of the most popular items on the entire menu was Thai iced tea. She proceeded to tell me exactly how to make it and how profitable it was for restaurants to make. I didnt care too much about the profitability of Thai iced tea. But rather, Im more interested on how easily it was made and why we didnt make it more often. The version we have is as authentic as what most Thai restaurants in America are making. Our version really does taste like what we have ordered at most Thai restaurants.
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Ingredients Needed For Thai Iced Tea
Traditional Thai tea is made using a Thai tea mix. When my cravings recently kicked in for this decadent icy beverage I searched and searched for a tea mix without the food dye. Sadly, I couldnt find anything, but this only encouraged me to find a healthy Thai iced tea alternative that tastes equally delicious, if not exactly like the original. Making Thai tea from scratch allows you to omit unhealthy ingredients.
What Is Thai Tea
The Thai Iced Tea we know and love here in the United States is not traditional Thai iced tea.
In fact, tea, overall, is a relatively new concept believed to have been brought over to Thailand sometime in the 1980s from China. Created some 30 years ago, traditional versions consisted of black tea, condensed milk, and crushed ice.
It was at this time that Thai Tea, became a staple of Thai street food.
But if traditional Thai tea is made with black tea, sweetened condensed milk, and crushed ice, then why is it orange? And what about all those spices?
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Authentic Thai Milk Tea
- 1 tablespoon of Thai tea
- 1 cup of hot water
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- 2 teaspoon of sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons of evaporated milk
Preparations:
** ps: If you want to include boba in your drink, pour the boba in an empty cup first before topping it with ice and milk tea.
- 2 teaspoons of Thai Green Tea Mix
- 1 cup of hot water
- 2 -3 teaspoons of sweetened condensed milk