Bubble tea has come a long way from where it used to be. Originally Thai iced tea was enjoyed in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Not it is widely consumed and found in almost every country. Bubble tea shops are popping up all over the world, each with their own take on what bubble tea is!
Despite new boba flavors invented, there is no doubt that Thai iced tea is still one of the most popular.
In this article, we are going to explain how to make your own restaurant-style Thai iced tea in your own kitchen! It’s much more cost effective and just as delicious.
Before we get into the recipe, we’d like to give some background knowledge on Thai iced tea.
What is Thai Iced Tea?
Thai iced tea sometimes referred to as “Thai Tea”, is a popular drink that originates from Thailand. It can be found in almost all boba shops and most Thai restaurants in the United States.
Thai iced tea is made from strongly brewed black tea, sweetened with sugar and/or condensed milk, and a splash of dairy or creamer. And of course, it’s usually served over ice.
Sounds amazing right?
Why is Thai Iced Tea Orange?
If you don’t know, Thai iced tea has a very distinct amber/orange color. You can’t really mistake it. This color is achieved when strong black tea meets a smooth dairy. The dairy used for Thai iced tea is typically evaporated milk, whole milk, half and half, or coconut milk.
Don’t be alarmed by the orange color of Thai iced tea. The color is achieved naturally and is totally safe to consume!
However, sometimes tea leaves used for Thai iced tea can be dyed with food coloring. This is used to give Thai iced tea an even more intense amber/orange color. And of course, the coloring is harmless. Don’t let it stop you from trying this amazing boba flavor!
Does Thai Iced Tea Have Caffeine?
A lot of our followers ask us if Thai iced tea has a lot of caffeine, and that answer is yes and no. It really depends on the type of method used to make the tea.
For example, if you were to use decaffeinated tea then there will not be any noticeable caffeine. In other words, decaf teas or coffee still have traces of caffeine but not enough to experience its effects. It’s very difficult to achieve 0% caffeine in an already caffeinated beverage.
On the other hand, if you were to use regular black tea leaves, then there is likely caffeine in the Thai iced tea. But there wouldn’t be as much as coffee. Generally, boba shops will use regular black tea leaves, so it’s safe to assume your Thai iced tea will have caffeine.
How Many Calories Does Thai Iced Tea Have?
Unfortunately, Thai iced tea contains more creamer and sugar than traditional boba flavors. This makes it generally less healthy than other drinks.
The exact calorie range of Thai iced tea can vary greatly depending on how much sugar and cream are used. To put it into perspective, usually, Thai iced tea will have more calories than a can of Coca Cola. The number of calories per serving can get even higher if you’re drinking Thai iced tea with boba pearls.
So… if you’re thinking about achieving that summer body soon Thai iced tea might not be so friendly.
How to Make Thai Iced Tea at Home
This is a simple recipe for making delicious Thai iced tea at home. This is actually the Thai tea recipe the team at Talk Boba uses and we think it really replicates what you can get at most authentic Thai restaurants in the United States.
Ingredients for Thai Iced tea.
- Tea Leaves: Pantai Thai Tea Mix or Number One: The Original Thai Tea
- Tea Filter
- Sweetened Condensed milk
- Sugar (optional)
- Handful of ice
Steps to Make Thai Iced Tea
- Bring water to a boil and add the Tea leaves to the water.
- Add ¾ cups of granulated sugar to the tea. You will need to gently stir to completely dissolve the sugar into the tea. Allow this tea and sugar mixture to boil for approximately 3 minutes then remove from heat. Make sure you have a non-stick pot for this process.
- Allow the tea to steep for at least 30 minutes (the longer you allow it to steep, the more flavorful and bold the Thai tea will taste). Generally, the more concentrated the tea tastes the better, so be patient with this step!
- Once you’ve waited at least 30 minutes, strain the tea into another container and use the tea filter to filter out the unwanted tea leaves. Set the strained Thai tea aside to allow it to cool.
- Once the tea has chilled to at least room temperature, put the Thai tea into the fridge until time to serve.
- Once you’re ready to serve, fill the glasses with as much condensed milk (or half and half) as you’d like, put in ice (make sure to leave space for your tea), and fill with Thai tea
Note: Stirring hot water for sweetened condensed milk makes it easier to mix.
That’s it! That is all you need to do to make restaurant-style Thai iced tea. This Thai iced tea recipe is just a baseline recipe; you can modify this formula to make it suitable for your own tastes!
Read our other popular recipes articles for boba at home!
