Description
Thai Iced Tea is a deliciously sweet and smooth iced tea infused with aromatic spices and creamy milk. This refreshing beverage combines black tea with star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, and optional vanilla and tamarind powder, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk, then served over ice topped with evaporated milk for the perfect balance of flavor and creaminess. Ideal for warm days or anytime you desire a flavorful iced beverage.
Ingredients
Tea and Spices
- 2 tablespoons loose-leaf black tea
- 1 pod star anise
- 2 pods cardamom
- 1/2 cinnamon stick (optional)
- 1/8 vanilla bean (optional)
- Tamarind powder, to taste (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Liquid and Sweeteners
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons evaporated milk, or coconut milk, or whole milk
- Ice cubes, as needed
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all tea, spices, sweeteners, milk, and ice to prepare your Thai iced tea.
- Steep Tea and Spices: Combine loose-leaf black tea, star anise, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, tamarind powder, and almond extract (if using) with boiling water. Let steep for 5 minutes to extract the rich flavors.
- Strain Tea: Pour the steeped tea through a fine mesh sieve to remove tea leaves and spices, ensuring a smooth liquid base for your drink.
- Sweeten Tea: Stir in sugar and sweetened condensed milk into the hot tea until fully dissolved, creating a sweet and creamy mixture.
- Prepare Glasses: Fill 2 tall glasses with ice, knowing the hot tea will melt some ice but dilute and blend the flavors perfectly.
- Pour Tea Over Ice: Pour the sweetened tea over the ice in each glass, leaving about an inch of space at the top for the evaporated milk.
- Add Milk Topping: Drizzle 1 teaspoon of evaporated milk (or your choice of coconut or whole milk) over each glass. Add extra ice if needed to keep your drink chilled and refreshing.
Notes
- Use plenty of ice as hot tea melts it quickly, which helps marry flavors but dilutes slightly.
- Adjust tamarind powder and almond extract to taste for unique flavor variations.
- For a dairy-free option, use coconut milk instead of evaporated or whole milk.
- To make a large batch, simply multiply tea, water, and other ingredients proportionally.
- Try cha manao Thai iced tea for a lime and jasmine twist, or Thai iced coffee for a coffee-based variation.
