If you want a no-fuss, easy Thai iced tea that tastes straight out of Thailand, then you need to try this cold brew Thai tea recipe. You can cold brew Thai tea, and it tastes almost the same as the regular brewing method. This version is extra smooth without any bitterness whatsoever.
Here’s how to make cold brew Thai tea at home!
Cold Brew Thai Tea Takeaways:
- Cold brew the Thai tea leaves for at least 6 hours or overnight, ideally.
- The condensed and evaporated milk are key ingredients for Thai tea.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- It’s super fun and makes a smooth cup of Thai iced tea!
- Experiment with different styles of tea brewing to see how it affects the flavor.
- Super easy to follow and makes restaurant-quality drinks you can enjoy for less.
- Uses only 5 ingredients, which you probably already have at home!
What is Thai Tea?
Thai tea is an orange, sweet, and creamy brewed milk tea that is probably the most popular beverage from Thailand. It’s made from black tea mixed with different spices and milks to get a creamy, spiced tea. However, these days most people use a loose-leaf mix which already has the flavor added, sometimes it’s even in powder form!
There’s also a green Thai tea version, too! It has hints of jasmine, mint, and pandan.
It tastes like a creamy vanilla milk tea with a hint of spice! It’s normally a dark brown color, but orange coloring was added to make it more appealing and vibrant. You can find it at virtually every Thai restaurant in the States, and on the side of the road in Thailand.
Thai tea is traditionally brewed in a tea sock to aerate the tea, but nothing is stopping you from trying other methods!
Can You Cold Brew Thai Tea Leaves?
Yes, you can cold brew Thai tea, and it’s actually super easy. First, the cold brewing method works great if you want a sweeter, smoother, and less bitter tea or coffee. It’s notoriously smooth and caffeinated (like cold brew coffee).
In this case, you want to use the same tea leaves you would normally brew and add them to some room-temperature or cool water, then let the tea sit overnight. Once it’s completely brewed, add the sugar and milk to get a Thai iced tea!
Thai Iced Tea vs. Cold Brew Thai Iced Tea
So, what’s the difference between regular Thai iced tea and cold-brewed Thai iced tea? As mentioned, regular Thai iced tea is brewed hot, normally using a tea sock, aerated for texture, then mixed with sugar, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. It’s sweet, creamy, and strong, and perfectly balanced with the ice.
Cold-brewed Thai tea uses a cold brew method to create the tea base, to which you then add the same sugar and milk as the regular Thai tea. Flavor-wise, it’s smoother, sweeter, but less creamy since there’s more water (unless you make a cold brew concentrate).
Honestly, I made these both to see if I could taste a difference, and the difference was sooo small! The flavor is identical, but the cold-brewed one is thinner than the regular one.
Cold Brew Thai Tea Recipe: Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need are the same ones you use in regular Thai iced tea:
- Thai Tea Leaves — My go-to brand for Thai tea leaves is ChaTraMue, which is what most vendors and restaurants use. They’re iconic! I buy the Thai tea leaves in a tin which come pre-flavored with spices and food coloring. I have yet to attempt making Thai tea from scratch! But until then, you can find the tea online or at some Asian grocery stores. Make sure it’s not the powder form, and real tea leaves.
- Evaporated Milk — This is the key to a creamy milk tea. If you use regular milk, it’s going to taste watery. A small can from the grocery store works! You can even substitute it with half and half for a more American flavor, as most vendors in Thailand use evaporated milk.
- Condensed Milk — The other key ingredient in Thai tea! This adds that sweet creaminess that you can’t achieve otherwise. Again, very findable at all grocery stores!
- Sugar — Thai iced tea also has regular sugar in it. Granulated sugar works perfectly here. Adding just sugar vs. condensed milk helps sweeten the tea without adding too much creaminess.
- Ice — You can’t have Thai tea without crushed ice! You can get it straight from your fridge or crush ice cubes yourself, although regular ice cubes work, too. But the small cubes just add a nice vibe…
- Water — Room temperature or slightly cool filtered water works great here.
How to Make Cold Brew Thai Tea
- Cold Brew Thai Tea. Add Thai tea leaves and water to a bottle or jug, making sure all the leaves touch water. Cover with the lid and place in the fridge or on the counter, and brew the tea overnight. Anywhere from 6 – 22 hours is good.
- Strain Tea. Once brewed, strain the tea leaves from the cold-brewed tea. Spoon in sugar and condensed milk, then stir until completely dissolved. To make it easier, you can dissolve the sugar and condensed milk with a little bit of hot water first, then add it to the cold tea.
- Assemble Drink. Fill a tall glass with crushed ice to the top, then pour the sweetened tea on top, leaving a one-inch gap from the top. Top it off with evaporated milk.
- Mix and Enjoy! Stir the milk and tea with a straw and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Cold Brew Thai Tea
- Use a French Press for Brewing: Use a French Press for an easy cold brew system! Just add the tea and water, and add the lid on top, making sure the metal mesh is at the top. Then, when it’s ready to filter, press down on the mesh and pour the cold-brewed tea out. No extra washing needed!
- Strain Using a Fine Mesh Sieve or Cheesecloth: The Thai tea leaves tend to have really small pieces that get past regular tea filters or sieves. To get a super smooth texture (and get rid of the small tea dust), you might have to strain the tea a couple of times or run it through a cheesecloth to get it clear.
Easy Cold Brew Thai Tea
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Thai tea leaves use 3 tbsp for a stronger flavor
- ⅓ cup evaporated milk
- 2 tbsp condensed milk
- 1 tsp sugar optional
- 1 cup ice
- 3 cups water for a 24 oz. jar
Instructions
- Cold Brew Thai Tea. Add Thai tea leaves and water to a bottle or jug, making sure all the leaves touch water. Cover with the lid and place in the fridge or on the counter, and brew the tea overnight. Anywhere from 6 – 22 hours is good.
- Strain Tea. Once brewed, strain the tea leaves from the cold-brewed tea. Spoon in sugar and condensed milk, then stir until completely dissolved. To make it easier, you can dissolve the sugar and condensed milk with a little bit of hot water first, then add it to the cold tea.
- Assemble Drink. Fill a tall glass with crushed ice to the top, then pour the sweetened tea on top, leaving a one-inch gap from the top. Top it off with evaporated milk.
- Mix and Enjoy! Stir the milk and tea with a straw and enjoy!
FAQ’s
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes! It’s easy to make this dairy-free or vegan; there are so many great dairy alternatives these days! For both the condensed and evaporated milk, you can find oat or coconut versions. If you buy oat for one, you should buy oat for the other, just to keep the flavor consistent. I personally like oats more since coconut can have a strong flavor, but both work!
Why is Thai tea orange?
Food coloring, point blank, haha. Naturally, Thai tea is not orange, but orange food coloring was added to make it more appealing to Western customers in Thai restaurants! It actually started in America and got so popular that it traveled all the way back to Thailand. Neat, huh?
How long does brewed Thai tea last in the fridge?
Brewed Thai tea will last up to 3 – 4 days in the fridge, but it tastes best within a day or two of brewing. I find that the longer the tea sits, the flatter tasting it gets, but I’m sure the tea itself won’t go bad for at least a week.
Other Tea Recipes to Try
If you love this cold brew Thai tea, then you need to try other versions of Thai tea, including the real deal! Here are some other Thai tea recipes to try next:
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