Taste Thailand in every sip! Our simple-to-make Thai Iced Tea recipe is the ultimate refreshment for enhancing your Thai dining experience.
I can’t keep myself from ordering Thai Iced Tea (also known as Cha Yen) when I eat at Thai restaurants, so I decided to learn how to make Thai tea at home!
Luckily, Thai Iced Tea mix is easy to find in any Asian grocery. You can also order it online. A bag of that size will make many large batches of Thai iced tea, so it’s definitely worth the small investment. Once you have your Thai tea mix, you just need water, ice, sugar, cream, and a way to brew it.
Table of Contents
Reasons to Love This Thai Tea
- I love that Thai Iced Tea has a unique blend of spices and flavors.
- Its creamy texture and rich color are visually appealing and enticing.
- It provides a refreshing escape from the heat, perfect for warm days.
Recipe Ingredients
- Thai Iced Tea Mix: This mix adds a unique, aromatic blend of tea and spices.
- Half-and-Half: Provides a creamy texture and mild richness.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Half-and-Half Variation: You can experiment with different dairy options to adjust the creaminess and sweetness of your Thai Ice Tea. Whole milk offers a rich, full-bodied texture, while sweetened condensed milk adds a luxuriously creamy consistency along with an extra touch of sweetness.
- Sugar Alternatives: While white sugar is traditional, experimenting with other sweeteners like coconut sugar, honey, or agave syrup can add a unique twist and enhance the overall flavor profile.
How to Make Thai Iced Tea
Step #1: Heat the water and sugar until boiling in a microwave-safe French press or liquid measuring cup. Stir the water to ensure the sugar has dissolved, then stir in the Thai Iced Tea mix and let it sit for 10 minutes to steep.
Step #2: Plunge down the strainer if using a French press, or strain the solids out of the tea by using a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter.
Step #3: Chill in the fridge for 1 hour or until cold.
Step #4: To serve, pour 8 oz. (1 c.) of tea into a tall glass over ice. Top with a splash of half-and-half. Drink immediately.
Expert Tips
Water Quality: Use filtered or spring water for a cleaner taste, as tap water can sometimes impart unwanted flavors due to chlorine or minerals.
Steeping Time: The intensity of the tea flavor can be adjusted by how long you let the tea steep. For a deeper, richer flavor, allow it to steep a bit longer than suggested, but be cautious as over-steeping can lead to bitterness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to sweeten your iced tea is by dissolving sugar in the boiling water before steeping the tea. This ensures an even distribution of sweetness throughout the drink.
Thai Iced Tea Mix typically contains black tea and various spices like star anise, cardamom, and sometimes tamarind.
Yes, you can still make Thai Iced Tea without a French press. Simply steep the tea in a pot and strain it using a cheesecloth, fine mesh strainer, or a coffee filter.
Yes, you can use coconut milk or almond milk as a vegan alternative. These options will add a unique flavor and still provide the creamy texture that complements the tea.
Storage Info
Store your leftover tea in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Its flavors are best enjoyed cold.
More Delicious Drinks That You’ll Love
Thai Iced Tea Recipe
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 4 tablespoons white sugar
- 4 Tbsp. Thai Iced Tea Mix
- Ice
- 1 to 1 1/2 c. half-and-half
Instructions
- Heat the water and sugar until boiling in a microwave-safe French press or liquid measuring cup. Stir the water to ensure the sugar has dissolved, then stir in the Thai Iced Tea mix and let it sit for 10 minutes to steep.
- Plunge down the strainer if using a French press, or strain the solids out of the tea by using a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter.
- Chill in the fridge for 1 hour or until cold.
- To serve, pour 8 oz. (1 c.) of tea into a tall glass over ice. Top with a splash of half-and-half. Drink immediately.
NOTES
Nutrition
Didn’t expect much but it turned out smooth and not too sweet. Good balance and felt easy to pull off.
I ordered the recommended Thai tea mix. I thought maybe it had other ingredients other than tea, like masala Indian tea, but it is all tea with a LOT of yellow dye. So must use a straw or your lips will turn orange! It will stain everything so care must be taken. It has a warning on the package that the yellow dye may effect children’s behavior. Crazy!
Hi Sherri,
Almost all Thai tea mixes contain yellow food coloring.
However, I had not noticed that warning before.
Thanks for letting me know.
I did find an all natural brand (with no food coloring) that I just ordered to check it out and have switched out the recommendation on the article to this one as it has great reviews on Amazon.
Here is the link if you want to try it next: https://amzn.to/2wruc1c
-Linda