Thai Tea

Who doesn’t love sitting down at an Asian restaurant and ordering a sweet, creamy Thai Tea? Have you ever wondered how they make it taste so incredible?

In Thailand, you’ll find countless vendors selling Thai tea on the streets, you can get it from street stands and often from mobile motorbike drink carts. Many of the Thai tea vendors, use a brand of tea that comes in a red and white bag known as Cha Dra Muer  If you want the beautiful orange color I recommend getting this tea.

There are many other brands of Thai Tea available. It is also quite easy to create your own blend. I have been very happy with this blend from The Tea Table. The base of this tea is a Premium Ceylon black tea and is blended with Cardamom, Vanilla and Licorice Root.

What You Need:

Unless you plan on creating your own blend, you do not need a lot to make an amazing cup of Thai Tea.

1. A Steeper like this IngenuiTea from Adagio
2. Your favorite brand of Thai Tea leaves
3. Sweetened Condensed Milk
4. Evaporated Milk
5. Sugar if you want it.

How To Make It

This part is pretty simple. Since this is an iced tea, I like to make it a little stronger. If you plan on drinking it immediately you will need to make your tea stronger so it is not diluted when put over ice. Do not steep the tea longer for stronger flavors, add more tea.

• I use 6-8 Perfect Tea Spoons for my 16oz tea maker. However, the minimum is 2 tea spoons for every 8oz of water.
• Add the tea to your tea maker and top with hot water between 195-205ºF.
• Let it steep for 3-5 minutes. If you plan on putting in additional sugar do so while your tea is steeping to allow it to completely dissolve.
• Add ice to your cups while the tea is steeping. Make sure it is completely full of ice.
• Fill your cup about 3/4 of the way with tea.
• Add 2-3 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk and 1-2 tablespoons of evaporated milk to give it the creamy texture.
• ENJOY!

If you have time to allow your tea to cool naturally this is the best way. Make as much of the concentrate as you want and put it in a pitcher in the refrigerator overnight (or all day). When you are ready to drink it, fill a cup with ice and tea then add the sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk.

How To Make Your Own Thai Tea Blend

It is actually pretty easy to make your own Thai Tea Blend! You will have to play with the ingredients a bit to get it to taste the way you want it. I highly recommend starting with a Ceylon Black Tea Base like the one from Adagio. Once you have your base you will use the following ingredients:

• • star anise

• • cardamom

• • cinnamon stick (optional)

• • vanilla bean (optional)

• • ground tamarind, to taste (optional)
  • almond extract (optional)

Finding the right blend might take some time. Once you get the blend to taste the way you want it follow the steeping instructions above to make your tea.

Articles
Home