How to Make Authentic Thai Iced Tea at Home

Thailand is famous for its unique, sweet and refreshing beverage known as Thai Iced Tea. With its exotic taste and vibrant orange color, it is loved by people all around the world. If you’ve ever tried it, you know how delicious it is, and if you haven’t, you’re in for a treat. This article will provide you with a simple and easy-to-follow recipe to make this delicious beverage at home.

Thai Iced Tea is a combination of black tea, spices, and sweetened condensed milk. The tea is traditionally served over ice and enjoyed as a cool and refreshing drink. It’s perfect for hot summer days or just as a sweet treat anytime. The best part is that it can easily be made at home, with a few simple steps and easily available ingredients from your local supermarket. So, let’s get started and make this delicious beverage that will transport you straight to Thailand!

How to Make Thai Iced Tea like a Pro

If you’re a fan of Thai cuisine, then you’ve probably tasted a delicious and refreshing Thai iced tea. This popular beverage is not only tasty but also easy to make with the right ingredients and techniques. Whether you’re a beginner or someone who wants to perfect their Thai iced tea-making skills, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to make Thai iced tea like a pro.

1. Use the Right Tea

The first step in making Thai iced tea is to use the right tea. Most authentic Thai restaurants use a blend of black tea, such as Ceylon or Assam, and spices like anise, cinnamon, and cardamom. You can get the pre-blended tea in most Asian grocery stores or make your own blend using loose tea and spices.

2. Brew the Tea

Brewing the tea is the next step, and it involves steeping the tea leaves with the spices in hot water. To get the perfect brew, use a teapot or a large jar and let the tea steep for about 5 minutes. The longer you steep the tea, the stronger the flavor will be.

3. Strain the Tea

Once the tea has brewed, strain it into another jar or a large measuring cup. This will remove the tea leaves and other spices, leaving you with a smooth and flavorful tea.

4. Add Sugar

Thai iced tea is typically sweetened with condensed milk or sugar. You can add sugar directly to the hot tea and stir until it dissolves. Adding sugar while the tea is still hot ensures that it dissolves fully and distributes evenly in the drink.

5. Add Condensed Milk

For a creamy and sweet Thai iced tea, add sweetened condensed milk to the tea, and stir until it mixes well. Condensed milk gives the tea its distinct orange color and a rich, velvety texture that complements the tea’s bold flavor.

6. Adjust the Taste

After adding sugar and condensed milk, taste the tea to see if it needs any adjustments. You can add more sugar, milk or even more tea to balance out the taste and reach your desired flavor.

7. Let the Tea Cool

Once the tea is brewed and sweetened, let it cool to room temperature or refrigerate it until it’s completely chilled. Chilling the tea will help it stay fresh and crisp when it’s served over ice.

8. Prepare Serving Glass

To serve Thai iced tea, pour the chilled tea over ice in a tall glass. You can add a slice of lime or lemon to the tea to enhance its flavor and give it a tangy twist.

9. Garnish

Garnishing Thai iced tea with a sprig of fresh mint or a slice of orange will add a pop of color and aroma to the drink. You can also dust the tea with cinnamon or cocoa powder for a touch of elegance.

10. Enjoy Your Thai Iced Tea!

Now that you know the tips and tricks of making Thai iced tea like a pro, it’s time to sit back, relax, and sip on your homemade drink. Thai iced tea is the perfect beverage for hot summer days, and it’s also an excellent complement to spicy Thai dishes. Enjoy your refreshing and tasty drink!

Conclusion

Thai iced tea is a delicious and refreshing beverage that you can easily make at home with the right ingredients and knowledge. By following these steps, you’ll learn how to make the perfect Thai iced tea like a pro. Use the right tea, brew it well, adjust the taste, garnish, and enjoy your homemade Thai iced tea any time of the day.

Ingredients of Thai Iced Tea

Thai Iced Tea is a refreshing beverage, especially during hot weather. It’s creamy, aromatic, and sweet, perfect to quench your thirst. Making a perfect Thai Iced Tea requires a combination of flavorful ingredients, and here are the ingredients you’ll need to make it:

1. Black Tea

Thai Iced Tea is made using black tea leaves. Traditionally, the best tea for making Thai Iced Tea is Ceylon tea leaves. Ceylon tea leaves are robust and have a bold flavor that complements the other ingredients in the tea.

2. Sweetener

Sweetness is a crucial component in Thai Iced Tea and gives the tea an optimal balance. Sweeteners used in Thai Iced Tea vary from sugar, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. Condensed milk is the most popular way of sweetening Thai Iced Tea.

3. Evaporated Milk

The creaminess and thickness of evaporated milk make it an essential ingredient in crafting Thai Iced Tea’s signature texture. It’s important to use evaporated milk for a traditional taste and a creamy texture instead of coconut milk or any other milk.

4. Ice

Ice is used to cool down the tea and provide refreshment, making it perfect for hot weather. It’s recommended to use lots of ice cubes in your Thai Iced Tea since it’s a refreshing and cold drink.

5. Orange Food Coloring

While it may seem odd to use food coloring in your Thai Iced Tea, it’s essential in achieving the vibrant orange hue that characterizes Thai Iced Tea. You can also use other colors like red, pink, or yellow to achieve a different color combination.

6. Star Anise

Star Anise is a lovely addition to Thai Iced Tea as it gives off a sweet, warm, and licorice-like flavor. It’s a vital component in Thai cuisine and adds a unique and exotic flavor to your drink.

7. Cinnamon Sticks

Cinnamon sticks are an optional but classic ingredient in Thai Iced Tea that adds depth and warmth to the tea’s flavor. Cinnamon sticks give off a warm feeling, which is perfect for a relaxing afternoon or morning.

8. Crushed Cardamom Pods

Cardamom pods are a fantastic seasoning to enhance the tea’s aroma and flavor. The crushed cardamom pods give off a spicy, sweet, and aromatic flavor that gives the tea a lovely exotic touch.

9. Water

Water is a crucial ingredient while making Thai Iced Tea. You’ll need enough water to steep the tea bags to get a robust and robust flavor. It’s recommended to use filtered water to avoid the water’s mineral quality affecting the tea’s taste.

10. Large Beverage Pitcher

Lastly, you’ll need an appropriate-sized beverage pitcher to mix the ingredients after steeping the tea bags. A large beverage pitcher ensures that all the ingredients are well-mixed and provide a refreshing taste for everyone to enjoy.

Overall, these ingredients are all necessary in crafting the perfect Thai Iced Tea. A great balance of these ingredients guarantees a sweet, creamy, and unique flavor that will keep you coming back for more. Now that you know the ingredients let’s head over to the next step and start making the tea.

Ingredients Needed for the Thai Iced Tea

Now that you understand the basics of Thai tea and have brewed your tea, it is time to gather all of the necessary ingredients to make the delicious Thai iced tea.

1. Sweetened Condensed Milk

Sweetened condensed milk is a creamy, thick, and sweet magical ingredient that gives Thai iced tea its distinct taste. It is essential to use sweetened condensed milk rather than evaporated milk or regular milk because it gives the tea its sweetness without needing any extra sugar. You can find sweetened condensed milk in any grocery store or online.

2. Crushed Ice

Thai iced tea is typically served over crushed ice, which creates a refreshing and thirst-quenching drink, particularly for hot summer days. You can use a food processor to crush the ice, but if you don’t have one, putting a few ice cubes in a Ziploc bag and whacking it with a rolling pin works just as well.

3. Tea Strainer

After brewing your tea, you need to strain it to remove the tea leaves and any other solids that might make the tea gritty. You can find a tea strainer at any kitchen supply store or online.

4. Tea Glasses

Thai iced tea is traditionally served in tall glasses with wide openings. It is essential to have a glass that is large enough to hold the crushed ice and the sweetened condensed milk in addition to the tea.

5. Optional Additions

Some people like to add extra flavor to their Thai iced tea by adding ingredients such as vanilla extract, cardamom pods, or cinnamon sticks. These additions are optional, and you should experiment with different flavors to find the combination that you like the best.

Now that you have gathered all the necessary ingredients let’s start preparing the Thai iced tea.

Enjoy Your Refreshing Thai Iced Tea!

Well, there you have it – the perfect recipe for a delicious glass of Thai iced tea! We hope you enjoy making and savoring this refreshing drink just as much as we do. Don’t forget to thank us for this recipe. We’d love to hear your feedback or any variations you’ve tried, so do leave us a comment below! In the meantime, keep reading and watch out for more exciting recipes on our website. Thanks for joining us and we hope to see you again soon!