Thai Iced Tea
Sweetened condensed milk poured over ice — this is how Thailand does comfort in a glass.
Drinks · Prep 5 min · Cook 10 min · Serves 4 · Easy · By Tina · Published
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Thai tea mix, ChaTraMue brand
- 500 ml water, boiling
- 3 tbsp condensed milk
- 4 tbsp evaporated milk, for topping
- 2 tbsp sugar, to taste
- 1 star anise
Liquid Sunset in a Glass
Thai iced tea is one of the most visually stunning drinks I've ever made. That vibrant orange colour swirling into creamy white condensed milk is genuinely beautiful. But it's not just a pretty face -- the flavour is rich, fragrant, and incredibly refreshing. I started making it at home after getting tired of paying a fortune for it at restaurants.
Brewing the Tea
Use Thai tea mix -- the kind that comes in the distinctive golden bag. It's a blend of black tea with star anise, vanilla, and other warm spices that give it that unique flavour. Bring water to a rolling boil and steep the tea for about 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve or cloth to remove all the leaves and spice bits. You want a very strong, intensely orange brew.
Sweetening
While the tea is still hot, stir in sweetened condensed milk and a little sugar. The condensed milk gives it that signature creamy sweetness. Stir until completely dissolved, then let the tea cool to room temperature before chilling in the fridge.
Assembling the Glass
Fill a tall glass to the brim with ice. Pour the chilled tea over the ice until the glass is about three-quarters full. Slowly pour evaporated milk or half-and-half over the back of a spoon so it floats on top in a gorgeous layer. Serve with a straw and let your guest stir it together.
Tina's Tips
- Use authentic Thai tea mix -- regular black tea simply won't give you the right colour or flavour
- Brew it strong since the ice and milk will dilute it; weak tea means a watery drink
- Pour the milk slowly over a spoon for that beautiful layered effect before stirring
- Chill the tea completely before pouring over ice; warm tea melts the ice too quickly and waters everything down
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