Thai Iced Tea (ชานมเย็น)

This lurid-orange iced milk tea has quenched many a thirst in Thailand. Here is how to make your own blend to keep stored in the fridge door.

The famous Thai tea uses a specific tea type - assam - which lends a malty flavour and a natural orange stain to the drink, which most vendors enhance further with food colouring. The Thai brand tea that is used for this [BEST BUY] has some vanilla added to it and some colour enhancement, so you are unlikely to really need extra colouring added to it; it’s very orange already! You could drink this tea hot or without milk, many older Thais do, but it’s often enjoyed by the younger generations, and visitors to Thailand, blended with milk and served over ice as a way to beat the summer heat. I’m sure you will love it too! Let’s go!

INGREDIENTS (makes 4 servings)

• 1 litre water

• 7 tablespoons loose leaf assam tea (ideally the Thai brand [BEST BUY])

• 2-3 drops of orange food colouring - optional

• 400ml evaporated milk

• 6-8 tablespoons of condensed milk, or to taste

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (the Thai brand tea already contains this)

• pinch of salt

WALKTHROUGH

1. First, let’s brew the tea. Place 1 litre of water onto a boil. Once boiliing, add the 7 tablespoons of loose leaf assam tea. Turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid and leave it to brew for no more than 7 minutes.

   

2. Strain the tea mixture through a sieve with a piece of kitchen paper, discarding the tea leaves. Add 2-3 drops of orange food colouring if you prefer a strong orange colour. Allow the tea mixture to cool then transfer to the fridge to chill.

   

3. Now we’ll make the sweetened milk mixture. In a jug, combine the 400ml evaporated milk with a 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, pinch of salt and 6-8 tablespoons of condensed milk, sweetening it to your taste. You want this mixture to taste more sweet than you prefer, as it will later dilute with the tea. Transfer this mixture to the fridge to chill.

   

4. Once chilled, you’re ready to serve. Combine the tea and milk mixture in a 2:1 ratio (tea:milk mixture) in the glass , or to suit your taste. Enjoy!