• About
  • Recipe Index
  • FAQs
  • Contact

The Forked Spoon

Family-Friendly Recipes by Chef Jessica Randhawa

  • Recipe Index
  • Breakfast
  • Salad
  • Soups
  • Sides
  • Dinners
  • Dessert
  • Diets

Home ยป Recipe Index ยป Drink and Smoothie Recipes

Thai Iced Tea (Thai Tea)

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight Jessica Randhawa
May 22, 2022
4.89 from 202 votes


Last Updated April 29, 2025 | 30 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe
thai tea short pin
thai iced tea long pin
thai iced tea short pin

Thai Iced Tea is a creamy and refreshing mildly spiced sweet tea made from Thai tea mix (or black tea), milk, and sugar. Popular in Southeast Asia and served in many Thai restaurants, learn how to make Thai tea at home with this easy-to-follow guide and recipe.

Two glasses filled with prepared and iced Thai iced tea.

About this Recipe

Before ever traveling to Thailand, I remember my husband (then college boyfriend) ordering Thai iced tea any time we ate at our favorite Thai food restaurant. Sweet, creamy, and bright orange, it is impossible not to love this refreshing drink.

Several years later, we traveled throughout southeast Asia, including Thailand. In Thailand, we did little more than scuba dive and eat for a month and a half. Ironically, I never once saw the favorite bright-orange Thai iced tea. Distracted by all the other delicious foods that Thailand has to offer (really, the food makes a visit to Thailand worth it alone), I didn’t notice its absence until we got home.

Naturally, I was confused. So I did some research…

What is Thai Tea?

The Thai Style Iced Tea we know and love here in the United States is not traditional Thai iced tea.

In fact, tea, overall, is a relatively new concept believed to have been brought over to Thailand sometime in the 1980s from China. Created some 30 years ago, traditional versions consisted of black tea, condensed milk, and crushed ice.

It was at this time that Thai Tea, ชาเย็น (known as Cha Yen) became a staple of Thai street food. 

But if traditional Thai tea is made with black tea, sweetened condensed milk, and crushed ice, then why is it orange? And what about all those spices?

Steeped tea being poured over ice.

Thai Iced Tea in Thailand vs. Western Cultures

Interestingly, the orange color and spices were added when Thai tea became more and more popular in Westernized cultures in order to set it apart from regular, plain black tea. In fact, during the early years of westernized Thai iced tea, chefs would add orange food coloring to really give it a bright orange hue.

Nowadays, you’ll find both versions in Thailand- the “traditional” and the westernized version.

The following recipe is a less traditional (more westernized) version of the original.

Pouring cream into glasses filled with ice and prepared Thai tea.

How is Thai Tea Different From Plain Black Tea?

Unlike regular black tea, Thai tea is infused with star anise and cloves and sweetened with sugar or sweetened condensed milk.

Thai tea can be made in two ways:

  1. From a pre-made tea mixture which includes the coloring and the spices mixed in with the black tea. I used Pantai tea mix, but I’ve also heard great things about Number One Brand tea mix.
  2. Or from simple, plain, strong black tea. Either loose leaf tea leaves (that are strained after steeping) or tea bags. Both work.

The recipe I am sharing here today is using a pre-made tea mix.

Does Thai Tea Have Caffeine?

Yes, it contains approximately 20-60 mg of caffeine as it is prepared using black tea. The total amount of caffeine, however, varies greatly given several dilution factors – water, milk, and ice. 

Glass filled with ice, tea mix, and condensed milk.

RECIPE CARD

Two glasses filled with prepared and iced Thai iced tea.

Thai Tea Recipe

4.89 from 202 votes
AuthorAuthor: Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa
Thai Iced Tea is a creamy and refreshing mildly spiced sweet tea made from Thai tea mix (or black tea), milk, and sugar. Popular in Southeast Asia and served in many Thai restaurants, learn how to make Thai tea at home with this easy-to-follow guide and recipe.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
chill time 1 hour hr
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American, Thai
Servings 3 drinks
Calories 169 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ cup Thai Tea Mix
  • 2 ½ cups water
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • Ice
  • 1 cup half and half - or milk of choice (full-fat coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, etc.)
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

  • Bring water to a boil in a small saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the Pantai Thai Tea Mix and the sugar. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to low and boil gently for two minutes or so before removing from heat.
  • Allow the tea to steep for approximately 15 minutes before straining through a fine-mesh strainer or a tea filter to separate solids. Set tea aside to cool (for best results, allow the tea to cool in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour).
  • Fill glasses with ice. Pour in the steeped Thai tea approximately two-thirds full, leaving enough room to add milk or cream. Fill the glass with half and half (or desired milk of choice) and stir to combine.
  • For best results, enjoy your creamy, mildly spiced, slightly caffeinated, and delightfully sweet Thai tea immediately.

Jessica’s Notes

Ingredient Notes:
  • This recipe uses a premade Thai tea mixture. I chose to use Pantai Thai tea mix, but Number One Brand is also highly recommended. Both options taste exactly like the Thai tea you get from Thai restaurants. If you prefer to make this recipe without added spices and food coloring, plain black tea will also work.
  • Most restaurants will make Thai tea with sweetened condensed milk. If you prefer something a little less sweet, consider swapping for full-fat coconut milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, or half-and-half.)
Steeping Time: There is some debate on how long to steep tea. In general, it is thought that steeping for more than 5 minutes will result in a bitter-tasting tea. Thai tea, especially when using a premade mix, is an exception, and should be steeped for up to 15-20 minutes. 
Originally published June 5, 2018

Nutritional Information

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 104mg | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 91mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.
Two glasses filled with prepared and iced Thai iced tea.

More Thai Food Recipes

This Thai Chicken Curry Noodle Soup Recipe is a cozy, flavorful bowl of noodles swimming in a creamy coconut curry broth with tender chicken, fresh veggies, and warming spices. So good!

This Thai Mango Sticky Rice Recipe is a beloved Thai dessert featuring sweet sticky rice paired with ripe mango and rich coconut cream. Simple, satisfying, and perfect for summer.

Pad See Ew is a popular Thai street food made with wide rice noodles stir-fried in savory soy sauce with Chinese broccoli and your choice of protein. Chewy, smoky, and packed with umami flavor.

Quick, spicy, and incredibly flavorful, this Thai Basil Chicken Recipe (Pad Kra Pao Gai) is made with garlic, chilies, and fresh Thai basil. Best served over rice with a crispy fried egg on top.

A fast and tasty one-pan meal made with leftover rice, this Thai Fried Rice Recipe (Khao Phat Kaphrao) stir-fried veggies, aromatics, and a flavorful sauce.

Two glasses filled with prepared and iced Thai iced tea.

Have you tried making this Thai Iced Tea Recipe?

Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.

About Jessica

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

11.1K shares
Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

About Jessica Randhawa

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Tim says

    February 13, 2023 at 2:22 pm

    5 stars
    I was craving some Thai Tea, and after getting all the ingredients this sure hit the spot!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




4.89 from 202 votes (189 ratings without comment)

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Welcome to The Forked Spoon! I’m Chef Jessica Randhawa, and for over 14 years, I’ve been crafting and sharing more than 1200 recipes, blending delicious flavors with practical kitchen tips and expert culinary advice to elevate your everyday cooking. Learn more about meโ†’

Reader Favorites

  • Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip Cheese Pull with a tortilla chip. The Best Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe (+ Video)

  • Perfect, clear, beef bone broth in a large stockpot. Bone Broth Recipe (How to Make Bone Broth)

  • Acai bowl topped with fresh fruit and granola. Acai Bowl Recipe โ€“ How to Make Your Own Acai Bowl

  • grilled veggie skewers up close Easy Grilled Veggie Skewers

  • Two beautifully seasoned bone-in pork chops tilted against a pile of mashed potatoes on a white serving plate garnished with chopped parsley. The Best Baked Pork Chops

  • Large salad bowl filled with a variety of different fresh fruit including blackberries, ,strawberries, grapes, pineapple, kiwi, and watermelon. Easy Fruit Salad Recipe

Spring Recipes

  • Grilled and sliced Greek marinated chicken breasts. The Best Greek Chicken Marinade

  • Skillet filled with fully cooked mahi mahi fillets cooked in a lemon butter sauce and garnished with fresh parsley. Easy Mahi Mahi Recipe with Lemon Garlic Sauce

  • grilled veggie skewers up close Easy Grilled Veggie Skewers

  • A close up of a bowl Chimichurri Chimichurri Recipe (How to Make Chimichurri Sauce)

  • Large salad bowl filled with a variety of different fresh fruit including blackberries, ,strawberries, grapes, pineapple, kiwi, and watermelon. Easy Fruit Salad Recipe

  • Three iced watermelon margaritas in rocks glasses garnished with fresh lime wheels and sliced watermelon. Watermelon Margarita Recipe (3-Ingredients)

Logo of The Forked Spoon by Jessica Randhawa
The Forked Spoon has been featured on Yahoo, CountryLiving, MSN, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, and Parade with logos shown of News Media Companies
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Accessibility Statement

ยฉ 2011 - 2025 The Forked Spoonยฎ LLC

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.