Thai Tea: A Popular Beverage with a Unique Twist
Thai tea, known as "cha yen" in Thailand, is a traditional drink crafted from strong black tea, milk, and sugar. Over time, Thai chefs who moved to the West have altered the original recipe to cater to local tastes by incorporating orange food coloring and extra sugar, similar to popular Western coffee drinks. This modified version is the Thai tea commonly found today.
Thai Tea in Thailand
In Thailand, Thai tea is usually not made at home. Much like grabbing coffee on the way to work, many people in Thailand pick up their Thai tea from a favorite vendor or café every morning. Originally, street vendors brewed the tea with strong black tea and a variety of spices. With increasing demand, they shifted to using a pre-mixed blend of tea leaves and spices. To brew it, vendors place the tea in a pot lined with pantyhose for filtration and let it steep for several minutes before straining. The tea is then combined with condensed milk and crushed ice, served either in a plastic cup or a small plastic bag with a straw.
Recommended Thai Tea Mixes
For those looking to simplify the process, pre-mixed Thai tea blends like Taste Nirvana, Number One, One Hand Brand, and Pantai are available. These mixes already include the tea leaves and spices and can be found at Asian specialty stores or on Amazon. All you need to do is brew them and add condensed milk and milk.
Brewing with Ceylon Tea
For those who prefer to add their own spices, using Ceylon tea is recommended, known for its natural golden hue. If Ceylon tea isn’t available, English breakfast or Darjeeling tea can be used as substitutes. For color, turmeric powder can be added to achieve the iconic orange shade without overpowering the tea’s flavor. Adding spices like anise, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and cardamom can enhance the rich taste, while a combination of sweetened condensed milk and fresh milk completes the beverage.
Loose Leaf vs. Bagged Tea
Loose leaf tea is generally considered to have more depth and complexity compared to bagged tea, which contains smaller, lower-grade tea pieces. For a truly rich Thai tea, using loose leaf tea is ideal, but in its absence, bagged tea can suffice.
Making Large Batches
It is simple to prepare Thai tea in large quantities by scaling up the ingredients per the number of servings needed. For storing, ensure the brewed tea is filtered well to prevent flavor changes over time. Brewed Thai tea can be refrigerated for up to 7 days, with milk added only when serving.
Recipe: Homemade Thai Tea
Ingredients
To Brew the Tea:
- 4 tablespoons Ceylon loose leaf tea
- 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 whole star anise pod
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or 1 vanilla bean, halved and scraped
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 tablespoon sugar
For Serving:
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
Instructions
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Brew the Tea: In a medium saucepan, combine 4 cups of water with the tea leaves, cinnamon stick, cardamom, vanilla, turmeric, and sugar. Cover, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then remove from heat and let steep for 3-5 minutes.
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Strain and Cool the Tea: Strain the brewed tea using a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
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Make the Milk Mix: Combine the condensed milk and whole milk in a small bowl.
- Serve: Pour the cooled tea over ice and top with the milk mixture.
Storage: Store brewed Thai tea (without milk) in the fridge for up to 7 days. Add ice and milk mixture just before serving.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
- Calories: 148
- Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Protein: 3g
Enjoy your homemade Thai tea and experience its unique, vibrant flavors!
