Thai Iced Tea ชาเย็น (cha yen)
Two easy ways to make the iconic Thai drink at home. You can make it Thai style to try it the way it's done in Thailand, or make the American style to replicate the tea from your local Thai restaurant.
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 3/4 cup Thai tea leaves (buy Thai tea leaves online)
- 4 cups hot off-the-boil water
- ¼ cup sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup Thai tea base (from above)
- 1½ Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (or to taste)
- A pint glass packed full of ice
- 2-3 Tablespoons evaporated milk
- 3/4 cup Thai tea base
- 1 Tablespoon sugar (see note 2 )
- a pint glass packed full of ice
- 3-4 Tablespoons half and half ((~12% cream))
Instructions
- 1
For the Thai Tea Base (4 glass)
- 2
Steep the tea leaves in hot off-the-boil water for 5 minutes and then strain through a fine mesh strainer. If you have a french press, steep it in the french press and make the straining process easier!
- 3
Add the sugar and salt and stir to dissolve. Allow to cool to room temp before making tea so it won't dissolve the ice too much. You can now store this base in the fridge it will last at least a couple of weeks.
- 4
For the Thai Style Thai Tea (1 glass)
- 5
Pour the Thai tea base into a mixing glass and stir in the condensed milk until dissolved. If the tea base is chilled, it will help to microwave it briefly and bring it to room temp so the condensed milk will dissolve more easily.
- 6
Pack a serving glass full of ice and then pour in the tea. Drizzle with the evaporated milk on top and enjoy!
- 7
For the American Style Thai Tea (1 glass)
- 8
Pour the Thai tea base into a mixing glass and stir in more sugar to your taste, if needed. If the tea base is chilled, it will help to microwave it briefly and bring it to room temp so the sugar will dissolve more easily.
- 9
Pack a serving glass full of ice and then pour in the tea. Drizzle with the half and half on top and enjoy!