Thai tea is a popular and tasty drink that comes from Thailand, often made with strong black tea, milk, and sugar. You can enjoy it either hot or cold, but the cold version, known as Thai iced tea or "cha yen," is especially famous. While some recipes outside Thailand add spices like star anise for extra flavor, traditional Thai tea doesn't usually include them. Interestingly, other local drinks, such as herbal teas or ginger-infused Oolong tea, can also be called "Thai tea."
The main ingredients are strongly brewed black tea, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk. A very popular brand you might know is ChaTraMue, which has helped make Thai tea famous globally. For a beautiful creamy look and taste, evaporated or whole milk is often poured over the tea and ice just before it's served. You'll find it in tall glasses at restaurants, or from street vendors in plastic cups, and sometimes even made into a slushie-like frappé. Adding tapioca pearls can even turn it into a delicious bubble tea.
Beyond the classic version, there are options like dark Thai iced tea, which is just sweetened black tea without milk, served chilled. Another refreshing choice is lime Thai tea, which adds a zesty lime flavor to the milk-free version. In the mornings, people in Thailand often enjoy hot Thai tea with milk and sugar, or a hot dark tea without milk, perhaps alongside a fried pastry.
