Yes, I’m familiar with Thai iced tea! It’s similar to chai tea in that they both incorporate black tea and spices like clove and cardamom. However, Thai tea has a distinct orange hue and a creamy texture, achieved by using ingredients like coconut milk.
Black tea indeed offers various health benefits. Many Asian cultures consume it regularly, enjoying both hot and cold preparations. Thai iced tea, which includes black tea, orange blossom tea, antioxidant spices, and coconut milk, can be beneficial due to its healthy fat content, potential energy-boosting properties, and possible anti-inflammatory effects.
Moreover, it’s incredibly satisfying and can serve as a delightful indulgence or a revitalizing treat at the end of a busy day.
What Is Thai Iced Tea?
In Thailand, Thai iced tea is a common sight at coffee shops, street vendors, and restaurants. Traditionally, this refreshing beverage is crafted using black tea, condensed milk, and crushed ice.
Occasionally, it’s infused with star anise, imparting a sweet, licorice-like taste, along with hints of orange blossom water. However, as Thai iced tea recipes have evolved over time, they’ve been influenced by Western culinary trends. This has led to the inclusion of various sweeteners and even food coloring to achieve the iconic vibrant orange hue that consumers have grown accustomed to.
In this rendition of the Thai iced tea recipe, we harken back to its traditional roots by employing natural ingredients sans any artificial sweeteners.
Adding our unique twist, we substitute condensed milk with coconut milk as the creamer. Why, you ask? Well, coconut milk boasts a bounty of healthy fats, notably lauric acid, making it a preferred choice, especially for those prone to food allergies, as it’s devoid of dairy, soy, nuts, and grains.
Moreover, coconut milk brings a delectable, creamy richness to the concoction that harmonizes beautifully with the array of spices inherent in Thai iced tea, elevating its flavor profile to new heights.
In addition to the black tea and coconut milk used in this recipe, I also use star anise, whole cloves, cardamom, vanilla extract and orange blossom tea (or orange zest).
The star anise and cloves actually give Thai iced tea its signature orange color, although commercial and Westernized versions of the tea are made with artificial food coloring. This more natural recipe goes back to the traditional way of preparing the beverage. If you want your tea to be a more vibrant orange, try adding a tablespoon of cold-pressed carrot juice to each cup.
When it comes to the amount of caffeine in Thai iced tea, the number varies. The caffeine content of black tea is considered moderate, with about 42 milligrams of caffeine in eight ounces.
If you use caffeinated orange blossom tea bags to make your tea, you’re adding more caffeine, but you can find both black tea and orange blossom tea in decaffeinated forms if you’re concerned about having too much caffeine.
You are going to love this Thai iced tea recipe because it’s rich in flavor and will give you a nice pick-me-up too. Plus, it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare — so give it a try and let us know what you think!
Nutrition Facts
A single serving of Thai iced tea prepared using this recipe typically provides the following nutritional breakdown:
- 104 calories
- 1 gram of protein
- 7 grams of fat
- 10 grams of carbohydrates
- 1 gram of fiber
- 7 grams of sugar
- 1.3 milligrams of manganese (76 percent of the Daily Value)
- 0.16 milligrams of vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) (15 percent of the Daily Value)
- 0.11 milligrams of copper (12 percent of the Daily Value)
How to Make Thai Iced Tea
When preparing Thai iced tea, it’s beneficial to utilize a large cup or pitcher with a slanted edge for easy pouring and convenient storage of any leftovers in the refrigerator.
Begin by placing two organic black tea bags and two organic orange blossom tea bags (or one teaspoon of orange zest) into the pitcher. Then, pour one cup of hot, boiled water over the tea bags. If you prefer a slightly sweeter flavor, you can add one tablespoon of maple syrup as well. Allow the tea to steep for about 5-10 minutes, depending on your desired strength.
After steeping, remove the tea bags or strain out the loose tea leaves. Stir well to ensure the maple syrup is fully dissolved. Then, proceed with adding ice cubes to cool the tea down and dilute it to your desired strength.
Once cooled, serve the Thai iced tea over ice cubes in glasses, and enjoy its refreshing and flavorful taste.
Next, include 4 whole cloves, 2 star anise, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of cardamom to the pitcher. Stir the ingredients thoroughly, allowing the flavors to meld together as the tea steeps for approximately 8–10 minutes.
Once the steeping is complete, introduce ½ cup of cold water to the Thai iced tea mixture. This addition helps to balance the flavors and dilute the tea to the desired strength. Stir the tea once more to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
Your fragrant and flavorful Thai iced tea is now ready to be served over ice for a refreshing beverage experience. Enjoy the delightful fusion of spices and sweetness in every sip!
After steeping, strain the tea mixture through a mesh strainer to remove the tea bags, star anise, cloves, and any loose spices. Alternatively, you can use a slotted spoon to extract the tea bags and whole spices from the pitcher.
Once the tea has been strained, fill two tall glasses to the brim with ice cubes. Then, evenly distribute the strained Thai iced tea between the two glasses, ensuring each glass is filled to your liking.
With the glasses filled, the Thai iced tea is now perfectly chilled and ready to be enjoyed. The refreshing combination of flavors and aromas is sure to delight your taste buds!
To complete your Thai iced tea, top each glass with coconut milk, giving the tea a final stir for a creamy finish. Your refreshing Thai iced tea is now ready to be enjoyed!
Wondering what to serve alongside your Thai iced tea? Consider these mouthwatering Thai recipes:
- Thai Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Gai)
- Soba Noodles Recipe with Turmeric Thai Sauce
- Thai Curry Kelp Noodles
- Thai Curry (Green, Red, or Yellow)
- Thai Chili Sauce (Nam Prik)
- Thai Spring Rolls (Por Pia Tod)
- Thai Chicken Stir Fry (Pad Krapow Gai)
These delectable dishes complement the flavors of Thai cuisine and are sure to enhance your dining experience. Enjoy your Thai feast with a refreshing glass of Thai iced tea!