Craving the exotic flavors of Thai iced tea but don’t want to spend $4-$5 per glass at a restaurant or tea shop? You’ve come to the right place.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll teach you how to create this delicious drink right in your kitchen. Follow along, and you’ll be sipping on a refreshing glass of homemade Thai iced tea in no time.
What is Thai Iced Tea?
Thai iced tea is a sweet, creamy beverage concocted from strong black tea, sugar, and condensed milk. It’s often flavored with spices like star anise and cardamom.
It’s known for its distinctive orange color and is a staple drink served in Thai restaurants and bubble tea shops.
The History of Thai Iced Tea
The history of Thai iced tea (known as cha yen in Thailand) is intertwined with the broader history of tea in Thailand, as well as cultural exchanges with other countries.
Tea consumption in Thailand dates back to the 17th century.
A French diplomat named Simon de La Loubère writes about a visit to Thailand (known as Siam at the time) and documents how locals drink tea hot without any sugar.
As time passed, Thai tea culture fell under the influence of the Indian subcontinent — specifically, the practice of adding milk to tea.
In 1893, milky teas gained broader popularity in Thailand as Thai entrepreneurs started selling sweetened condensed milk.
In the 20th century, ice factories started popping up, and shops and cafes in Thailand updated their menus to include the chilled version of their teas.
The Thai iced tea we commonly drink today was born in 1945 with the arrival of the ChaTraMue brand. A Chinese immigrant founded the brand and began importing red tea and selling it as a milky brew.
The new flavor’s popularity took the world by storm, including Thailand, where iced tea became a standard menu item.
Thai iced tea didn’t become a household name worldwide until the 1980s. In North America, the rising popularity of Thai cuisine naturally led to Thai iced tea consumption in Western restaurants.
The popularity of the tea was further boosted by Western Thai restaurants’ incorporation of additional flavorings and colorings to appeal to the American taste.
Everything You Need To Make Thai Iced Tea at Home
Making Thai iced tea at home isn’t too challenging. You’ll need the standard items required to make any iced tea.
Ingredients
Make sure your cupboards have the following items:
- Granulated sugar or condensed milk. Half and half, evaporated milk, or non-dairy alternatives (like coconut milk) suffice.
- Thai tea mix or black tea bags.
- Hot water.
Optional ingredients for added flavor (if not using a pre-mixed Thai tea blend):
- Cardamom pod
- Cinnamon stick
- Vanilla extract
- Star anise
- Tumeric
- Cloves
Our Thai Temple Tea has many of these properties packaged into one refreshing drink.
Equipment
- Kettle
- A fine-mesh strainer or tea filter to strain the tea leaves
- A large pitcher or jug for storing the brewed tea
- Glasses with ice for serving
Some non-essential (but helpful) equipment includes:
- A reusable cloth filter — helpful if preparing iced tea with loose tea leaves.
- Measuring cups for precise measurements.
- A slotted spoon for removing tea bags.
How To Make Thai Iced Tea
You can make Thai iced tea in several ways.
Authentic Thai Tea
Authentic Thai iced tea is the original and healthier version, offering the most authentic flavor.
- Take a few ice cubes and place them in a glass.
- Boil water and steep the Thai tea mix or black tea leaves for no longer than five minutes. If using loose tea, use about one tablespoon per cup of water.
- Sweeten the tea with your preferred sweetener — make sure you add the sweetener while the tea is hot.
- Aim to add approximately 1/3 cup of sugar per four cups of tea. Let it cool down to room temperature. Avoid adding ice while the tea is piping hot.
- Add milk to the mixture. Don’t add more than two teaspoons per glass (regardless of the type of milk you use.)
- Pour your mixture into the pre-prepared ice-filled glasses.
Learn How to Make a Thai Iced Tea with Founder of Magic Hour, Zhena!
Restaurant-Style Thai Iced Tea
If you’re looking for a more “commercial” type of Thai iced tea, adjust your preparation in the following ways:
- After combining milk into the mixture and pouring it into an ice-filled glass, top it up with heavy cream or sweetened condensed milk.
- Add a generous amount of sugar.
- Experiment with boba and other customizations.
The restaurant version is sweeter and creamier, so consume moderately!
Vegan Thai Iced Tea
The vegan alternative is no challenge at all and requires a few adjustments to key ingredients:
- Use dairy-free options like plant-based alternatives (coconut, almond, or oat milk.)
- Use vegan sweeteners like maple syrup, agave nectar, coconut sugar, or stevia leaves.
All other ingredients in Thai iced tea are vegan-friendly.
*As of May 2021, the only Magic Hour tea we have that is not vegan is Quintessence, which contains honey crystals.
Customizations
Everyone likes their tea in a certain way, and there are minor adjustments you can make to create a Thai iced tea that tastes great to you:
- Tea strength: Generally, we recommend a maximum steep time of five minutes. But if you want your tea stronger, let it steep for longer (be careful it doesn’t get too bitter) or add less milk.
- Heaviness: If you want your iced tea to act as a dessert, layer it with more cream and sugar, and it’ll hit the right spot after a savory meal. If it’s your go-to drink first thing in the morning, go easy on any dairy-filled ingredients, and it’ll be kind to your stomach.
- Spice variations: Add extra spices like star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, or vanilla for a more complex flavor.
- Style: You can experiment with several blends. You can consume Thai tea in its organic, herbal, chai, or bubble tea form. Want to turn your Thai iced tea into a slushy? Opt for blended ice over ice cubes.
Our Thai Temple Tea offers specific health benefits for anyone opting for Thai iced tea for reasons beyond leisure. These benefits include anti-inflammation, a natural detox, a supported immune system, and a mood boost.
How to Store Leftover Tea
Made too much? Here’s how you store leftover Thai iced tea to ensure your second helping is as enjoyable as the first:
- Refrigerate promptly, ideally within two hours of preparation, and never freeze tea.
- If you make a large jug of iced tea, never add milk to the entire jug. Only add the milk to each individual serving (per the drinker’s requirements). Store the mixture and milk separately to avoid curdling.
- Use an airtight container.
You can consume the iced tea for three to five days if you have properly stored it.
The Perfect Thai Iced Tea
There is no single best way to make the perfect cup of Thai iced tea — it entirely depends on your preferences and reasons for drinking it.
Why not explore Magic Hour products to help you find your ideal match? Take the Magic Hour Tea Quiz to learn more.
Happy drinking!
