I love to drink Thai iced tea or what Thai people call it “Chaa Yen” (ชาเย็น). It has a unique flavor, creamy and sweet with rich aroma. My mom came to visit me last week so I asked her to teach me how to make it. It is actually very easy!
Let’s have a look at the ingredients and equipment:
1. 2 cups water (0.5 liter)
2. 50 grams black Thai tea (My mom mix Thai tea with another kind of tea she got from my hometown, she said it was from Malaysia and it makes the tea richer)
* You can find Thai tea mix which is available in Asian markets and also online.
3. 3/4 cup (about) brown sugar (you can also use white sugar, however my mom said the brown sugar gives the tea a nice fragrance)
4. 1/2 cup (about) condensed milk
5. 1/2 cup evaporated milk (if you can’t find condensed milk and evaporated milk, you can use half-and-half )
Directions:
1. Put the tea into the water and bring it to boil, then simmer over low heat about 10 minutes.
2. Strain the tea through a sieve lined with a Thai tea strainer, basically it is a really fine sheet pastry cloth.
3. I use the tongs to squeeze the cloth to get as much tea as possible, and that’s it! you already got Thai tea. You can keep the tea in the fridge and sweeten it later when you want to serve, but I wanted to serve it right away so I mixed the condensed milk, evaporated milk and the tea together.
4. Mix the the condensed milk and evaporated milk together.
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5. Pour the tea into the mixed milk. You can also refrigerate the tea until it is cold.
This is how to essemble the Thai tea:
1. Fill tall glasses with ice.
2. You want a two-layer effect so pour the tea over the ice to the bottom of the glass and leave about 20% at the top.
3. Slowly pour the evaporated milk into the glasses. Serve and enjoy!
My mom is helping me making the Cha Yen:)
Please let me know how it turn out:)
Mod
Hi Mod:
I started to like thai iced tea after I drunk it when i went to a Thai restaurant in U.S.
Then, i bought all the ingredients online myselft (brand-No.1Thai tea mix), but still a little different than the one made at the Thai restaurant, mainly mine is a little bitter and i tried different ways to eliminate but still there, and mine is always tasting a little different.
I wonder do you know if the Thai restaurant in the U.S add some other ingredient like cardomum or sth else, and how to eliminate the biterrness.
Thanks so much
Hi Mario, I am sorry I just saw your question. I don’t know what the ingredient in the Thai tea mix you bought. Usually the Thai iced tea is added with sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. You can try these two ingredients.
Dear Mod, which black thai tea brand you recommend? i will be coming to bangkok on 31 march 2017, i can buy it. Where can i buy it ?
i love the aroma of thai tea, my favorite
Have you tried ชาตรามือ Cha Tra Mue? They have a shop in Terminal 21 shopping (Asoke BTS station).
Dear Mod, which black thai tea brand you recommend? i will be coming to bangkok on 31 march 2017, i can buy it. Where can i buy it ?
Nice post; this would definitely work. I’m a tea enthusiast–although it sounds strange to say that–and I just tried and researched Thai tea, which is not the kind of tea I usually drink. One interesting point was about additional flavoring used in Thai iced tea, although as in your recipe a modern version could be made without any. It seemed orange blossoms and crushed tamarind seed might be most traditional, or that star anise or ground clove might also be used. It’s hard to say if any was actually really “original.”
The post about that: http://teaintheancientworld.blogspot.com/2015/09/traditional-thai-tea-at-bridge-cafe-and.html
Love cha yen since the first time I drank it. BTW I remember the tea always has a bright orangey colour that is different as compared to other countries milk tea. What gives the tea the orangey colour?
Many tea manufactures add food colouring into the tea powders. 🙂
Lucky to found your blog, Just back from Thailand just pass monday and started to miss Thai Milk Tea already~ (Y) Now can make own Thai Milk Tea~ =)
Thank you for visiting my website and read my article. I am happy to know that you like it. 🙂
Sawatdee Khrap Kru Mod!
When I go to Thai restaurants here in America and order Cha Yen I sometimes get the American version of ice tea (Just plain cold tea) and sometimes I get the Thai version. What I want is the American version. What should I ask for to make sure that I get the American un-sweetened version and not the Thai version with milk and sugar?
Khaawp Khoon Khrap
The American version is called ชาดำเย็น “Chaa Dam Yen” in Thai 🙂
I am not sure if you meant “Cha Dam Yen”, please read more about it here: http://wp.me/p1dKYh-sv
Kru Mod,
Yes that is close to what I want, except I also do not want sugar. Can I say “Ao Cha Dam Yen khrap, mai ao nam-tan khrap”?
By the way, i love your video lessons. You’re very cheerful and excited in your videos and I can tell that you really enjoy making them. I also enjoy the music and acting! I will be taking my second trip to Thailand in June and I have been trying to practice my Thai at least 1 hour a day. I am saving money so I can signup for your Skype lessons.
Khaawp Khoon Krap
Tea is my favorite, I’m looking forward to try this. Thanks for posting this recipe!
Kru Mod,
What is the difference between “condensed milk” and “evaporated milk”? Is the condensed milk sweetened?
Thanks
Sawatdee ka Kun John, condensed milk (Thai :นมข้นหวาน) is thick and sweetened, evaporated milk(Thai :นมข้นจืด หรือ นมข้นไม่หวาน) is thin like regular milk and not sweet:)