Cha-Yen — Thai Iced Tea Recipe: A Refreshing Touch of Asia

Thai iced tea is a classic, non-alcoholic Pan-Asian drink. In Thailand it is served in restaurants and also sold as a takeaway, often poured into a plastic bag instead of a glass. It ...

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Thai iced tea is a classic, non-alcoholic Pan-Asian drink. In Thailand it is served in restaurants and also sold as a takeaway, often poured into a plastic bag instead of a glass. It is consumed all day long and at all times of the year. It is very refreshing and thirst-quenching. You can also find Thai ice tea (cha-yen) in Thai restaurants in Europe or you can make it yourself – it is simple and fast.

By the way, do you know what else is a popular Asian tea? It’s Taro bubble tea. Also known as taro milk tea, is a variation of bubble tea that contains taro flavor, a starchy root vegetable with a nutty flavor. Both Thai iced tea and taro bubble tea are popular drinks that can be found in Asian-style tea shops and cafes.

Serve Thai iced tea in big glasses, if you want, with ice.

When translated directly from Thai, cha-yen means “cold tea”. It is an excellent thirst-quencher, and the Thais need to be very good at this because the average annual temperature there varies from 25 to 30 degrees, and rises to 35 degrees in the summer. In Thailand, condensed milk is sometimes substituted for coconut milk, but the classic recipe calls for sweet condensed milk. 

What is Thai Iced Tea taste like?

Thai Iced Tea has a sweet, creamy, and complex taste with an intriguing blend of flavors. The strong, slightly bitter black tea forms the base note, which is enriched with a symphony of aromatic spices like star anise, tamarind, and cardamom, introducing a subtly spiced and somewhat floral undertone.

The use of sugar and condensed milk introduces a pronounced sweetness, which balances the bitter and spiced notes of the tea. The condensed milk further introduces a rich, creamy taste and texture, making the tea smooth and velvety.

The addition of a creamy layer on top, often made from evaporated milk or coconut milk, imparts a luxurious mouthfeel and a hint of caramel-like flavor. This creaminess contrasts beautifully with the robustly spiced tea, adding a soothing element to the drink.

The end result is a delightfully refreshing beverage with a harmonious blend of sweetness, creaminess, and spiciness, all underscored by the robust flavor of black tea. It’s an exotic medley of flavors that is at once comforting and revitalizing.

What kind of tea is suitable for making Thai tea?

Thai Iced Tea is traditionally made with a Thai tea mix, which is a robustly flavored black tea that has been blended with spices such as star anise and crushed tamarind. This tea mix gives Thai Iced Tea its characteristic spiced and somewhat floral flavor.

The most commonly used brand for Thai tea mix is “Number One Brand” or “Cha Tra Mue,” which can be found at Asian grocery stores or online. This brand is distinctive for its bright red color, which is due to the food coloring added to the mix.

If you can’t find a Thai tea mix, you can substitute it with a strong black tea, such as Assam or Ceylon.

Please note that these substitutions will give you a drink that’s similar to, but not exactly the same as, traditional Thai Iced Tea, which is distinguished by the unique blend of flavors in Thai tea mix.

Serve Thai iced tea in big glasses, if you want, with ice.

Now I will tell you how to make Thai iced tea at home. It really is as simple as possible and takes literally just 15-20 minutes to prepare. 

Ingredients

Thai Iced Tea Ingredients

For 4-5 servings:

  • 1200 ml (5 cups) of water
  • 3 stars anise
  • 30 g (1,1 oz) ginger root
  • 1/4 teasp. ground cinnamon or one cinnamon stick
  • 6 clove buds
  • 6 cardamom capsules
  • 2 tbsp. black tea leaves
  • 200 g (7,1 oz) sweetened condensed milk 
  • 100 ml (3,4 fl.oz / ~7 tbsp.) fresh whole milk

Preparation

Step 1.

Cut the ginger randomly. As you can see, I do not even peel it, all the spices will be separated later.

Step 2.

Cut the ginger randomly. As you can see, I do not even peel it, all the spices will be separated later.

Crush the cardamom with a knife for Thai iced tea

Step 3.

Pour 1200 ml (5 cups) of water into a saucepan. Add the tea, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, anise, and ginger.

Put the saucepan on the stove, add the tea, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, badjan, and ginger for Thai iced tea

Step 4.

Put the saucepan on the stove, bring it to a boil then reduce the flame to a minimum and cook for 10-15 minutes. After allowing the contents to cool slightly for 30-60 minutes, strain the resulting tea through a fine sieve into a suitable container.

Step 5.

Add the milk and condensed milk.

Mix well, cover with clingfilm and leave in the fridge for at least 6 hours, or better still, overnight. We need the mixture to cool down and infuse well. 

Step 6.

Serve in big glasses, if you want, with ice.

Serve Thai iced tea in big glasses, if you want, with ice.
Serve Thai iced tea in big glasses, if you want, with ice.
Serve Thai iced tea in big glasses, if you want, with ice.

🥡 How to Store

Proper storage is essential to maintaining the quality and flavor of Thai iced tea. If you have prepared or bought more Thai iced tea than you can drink at once, here’s how you can store it:

Refrigeration

Pour the leftover Thai iced tea into a clean, airtight container or glass bottle. Seal the container tightly to avoid any air exposure. Do not mix it with ice or milk yet, as these can dilute the flavor over time or cause it to spoil faster.

How long does thai tea last in the fridge?

When properly stored in the refrigerator, Thai iced tea can last for up to 4-5 days. However, for the best taste, it’s recommended to consume it within 1-2 days. After this point, the flavor might start to change.

Freezing

If you want to keep your Thai iced tea for a longer time, you can freeze it. Pour the tea into ice cube trays and place them in the freezer. Once the tea cubes are frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. This is a great way to have instant Thai iced tea; just add the cubes to a glass of milk whenever you want a refreshing drink.

How long it can be freezed?

Thai iced tea cubes can last in the freezer for up to 3-4 months without significant loss of flavor. It’s important to note, though, that while freezing will extend the shelf life, it may slightly alter the texture and taste of the tea when thawed.

‼️ Regardless of the storage method, always make sure to check your Thai iced tea for signs of spoilage before consuming it. If it develops a strange smell, discoloration, or mold, discard it immediately. Always prioritize food safety when consuming stored beverages or food.

🙋‍♂️ FAQ

What is Thai iced tea?

It is a very strong, very sweet tea with added milk and condensed milk. It is a classic drink in Thailand, where it is called cha-yen. It is made with red Chinese tea (in our country, such varieties are called black, but in the Celestial Empire, black tea is only puerh). It can also be made with or special Thai mixes for cha-yen.

What is a cha-yen mixture?

It is a special powdered tea having a strong roasting. Orange and anise flowers, tamarind seeds and other spices are added to it (before grinding). In Thailand, such blends are used to make condensed milk iced tea but if you use regular black leaf tea, the drink will taste very similar. 

What does Thai iced tea taste like?

Cha-yen is quite sweet with a slight bitterness that comes from the strong brew. The milky flavor is not very pronounced but it adds a mild, balanced taste. It is a very interesting combination of rich bittersweet flavors. Your taste receptors will freeze in surprise for a second and then begin to perceive additional subtle tones of milk, badjan and cardamom.

What kind of tea is used to make Thai iced tea?

I recommend taking classic varieties without flavorings. It is even better if you can buy Thai tea or a Thai cha-yen blend because that is what they use in Thailand. 

How do you make Thai iced tea with bags?

The recipe is no different from the classic one, only instead of using 2 tbsp. of leaf tea, we use 4-5 teabags.

How long does it take to make Thai chai-yen iced tea?

It takes up to 20 minutes to prepare the mixture, and then another 6-12 hours for the drink to infuse and cool.

How do I refrigerate Thai tea?

After making it, put the mixture into the refrigerator – overnight is best. It is better to add ice after the drink is already chilled. To serve, use a highball glass, which can be filled with crushed ice and decorations (a sprig of mint, lemongrass stems, candied ginger). Serve with straws.

What makes Thai iced tea an orange color?

The orange color is imparted by a special Thai blend for cha-yen. The mix is enriched with food coloring agents which are absolutely harmless and don’t change the taste of the drink, but make it bright and very attractive. Cha-yen can be made not only orange, but also red or pink. Without the addition of food colorings, cha-yen has the color of tea with milk.

How many grams of sugar are in Thai iced tea?

This drink can not be called a diet drink! 200 grams of condensed milk contains about 86 grams of sugar (43%), while in one serving (glass) of tea there are about 20 grams. However, it depends on the type of condensed milk you use in the preparation.

How many carbohydrates are in Thai iced tea?

The caloric value of a glass of cha yen is 158.9 kcal. It contains 31.5 grams of carbohydrate, 3.1 grams of protein and 2.6 grams of fat (of which 1.5 grams are saturated).

How much caffeine is in Thai chilled tea?

The caffeine content comes from the black loose-leaf tea. One cup of the drink contains 28 to 44 mg, depending on the type of brew you choose to drink.

How long can Thai iced tea keep in the refrigerator?

Concentrated chai yen (without added milk) can be kept in the refrigerator for up to one week. If milk has been added, we do not recommend storing it for more than a day or two.

How much caffeine in black tea per 100ml?

The caffeine content in black tea can vary depending on several factors, including the specific type of black tea, how it’s brewed, and how long it’s steeped.

However, on average, an 8-ounce (approx 237 milliliters) cup of black tea contains about 47 milligrams of caffeine. If we want to convert this to 100 milliliters, we can use the ratio 47 mg/237 mL = X mg/100 mL. Solving for X, we find that there are approximately 20 milligrams of caffeine in 100 milliliters of brewed black tea.

Thai Iced Tea

Thai Iced Tea: A Refreshing Touch of Asia

5 from 1 vote
Thai iced tea is a classic, non-alcoholic Pan-Asian drink.
CourseDrinks
CuisineThai
Cook Time30 minutes
Servings4
Calories192kcal

Ingredients 

  • 1200 ml water
  • 3 stars anise
  • 30 g ginger root
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon or one cinnamon stick
  • 6 clove buds
  • 6 cardamom capsules
  • 2 tbsp black tea leaves
  • 200 g condensed milk
  • 100 ml fresh milk

Instructions

  • Cut the ginger randomly. As you can see, I do not even peel it, all the spices will be separated later.
  •  Crush the cardamom with a knife then sort of open it up, so it gives off more flavor.
  • Pour 1200 ml of water into a saucepan. Add the tea, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, anise, and ginger.
  • Put the saucepan on the stove, bring it to a boil then reduce the flame to a minimum and cook for 10-15 minutes. After allowing the contents to cool slightly for 30-60 minutes, strain the resulting tea through a fine sieve into a suitable container.
  • Add the milk and condensed milk. Mix well, cover with clingfilm and leave in the fridge for at least 6 hours, or better still, overnight. We need the mixture to cool down and infuse well.
  • Serve in big glasses, if you want, with ice.

Nutrition

Calories: 192 kcal | Carbohydrates: 32 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 5 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 20 mg | Sodium: 77 mg | Potassium: 290 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 29 g | Vitamin A: 175 IU | Vitamin C: 2 mg | Calcium: 186 mg | Iron: 1 mg
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About me:

Hi, I'm Alex. I love to cook and bake, and I'm always looking for new recipes to try. I started this blog — to collect and share most delicious and easy recipes in one place. I remember, how many questions recipes raised to me, when I started cooking. To make sure that doesn't happen to you, I take step-by-step photos of the cooking process for every recipe so you can see how all the steps are supposed to go together, even if you're not following my recipes exactly.

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