Thai Iced Tea Recipe is an absolute delight, blending the bold flavors of strong black tea with the sweet, creamy goodness of milk and sugar, all served ice-cold. It’s the kind of refreshing treat that instantly transports you to warm days and bustling street markets. If you love a drink that’s both vibrant in color and rich in taste, you’ll enjoy making and sipping this classic Thai beverage. It’s perfect for hot afternoons, lively dinner parties, or whenever you crave something a bit exotic and beautifully comforting.
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What Makes This So Good
This Thai Iced Tea Recipe captures the perfect balance between sweet, spiced, and creamy, delivering a gorgeous amber drink with silky textures and an invigorating aroma. It’s both simple and special, effortlessly elevating your beverage game at home.
- Big Flavor, Minimal Fuss: Using star anise and cardamom pods adds subtle warmth without complicating the process.
- Family-Friendly: The tea’s natural sweetness and creaminess make it a hit with both kids and adults alike.
- Simple Ingredients: You only need a few pantry staples, including Thai tea mix and sugar, to create this authentic treat.
- Works Any Night: Whether for a weekend treat or a casual gathering, this icy drink refreshes and delights anytime.
Ingredient Guide
Choosing the right ingredients really sets the stage for the best Thai Iced Tea Recipe experience. These tips will help you pick and prep for an authentic, vibrant cup every time.
- Thai Tea Mix: This is the star of the show. Use an authentic Thai tea blend with bold black tea leaves colored bright orange; it ensures that distinctive flavor and hue.
- Water: Fresh, filtered water makes a noticeable difference in clarity and taste.
- Sugar: Granulated white sugar is traditional, but you can adjust sweetness to your liking; feel free to swap for palm sugar for a deeper caramel note.
- Star Anise: Adds a warm, slightly licorice aroma that makes your tea taste unmistakably Thai.
- Cardamom Pod (optional): I love adding this for a hint of exotic spice — don’t skip if you like a fragrant touch.
- Milk: Evaporated milk gives creaminess and body, coconut milk adds tropical richness, and half-and-half is a great lighter alternative.
- Ice Cubes: Lots of them — Thai iced tea is always best when chilled to the max!
Quick Reminder: Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
How to Make Thai Iced Tea Recipe
Step 1 — Prep & Ready
Start by bringing 4 cups of fresh water to a rolling boil in a pot. While it heats, prepare your spices — the star anise and crushed cardamom pod — and measure out the Thai tea mix and sugar. Having these ready streamlines the process and keeps your cooking flow smooth. Once boiling, you’ll turn off the heat before adding the tea and spices. This prevents bitterness and ensures your tea stays smooth and flavorful.
Step 2 — Cook with Confidence
After turning off the heat, add the Thai tea mix, star anise, and cardamom pod. Let them steep for about 3 to 5 minutes. You’ll notice the water shifts to a deep, rich amber color, and the air fills with that cozy, spiced fragrance that signals you’re on the right track. Avoid steeping longer than 5 minutes to keep bitterness at bay. Once steeped, stir in the sugar until it's completely dissolved — don’t rush this step, it makes the tea beautifully sweet without any graininess.
Step 3 — Finish & Serve
Carefully strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove all leaves and spices — this keeps your drink smooth with no sediment. Let the strained tea cool to room temperature before popping it into the fridge to chill thoroughly. When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice cubes, pour the chilled tea partially filling the glass, then slowly add evaporated milk, coconut milk, or half-and-half. Watching the creamy layer cascade over the tea creates a stunning two-tone effect. Serve with a straw and give it a gentle stir for a perfect, creamy balance.
Extra Helpful Tips
Making Thai iced tea at home couldn’t be easier, but these little tricks help guarantee your drink turns out just right every time.
- Watch for This Sign: When steeping, the tea changes to a deep orange-brown color and smells fragrant, that’s your cue to stop brewing.
- Temperature Trick: Letting the tea cool completely before refrigeration prevents dilution and preserves bold flavors.
- Prep-Ahead Option: Brew and chill your tea concentrate a day ahead to save time on busy days or parties.
- Avoid This Common Mistake: Don’t pour hot tea directly over ice — this melts the ice too fast and waters down the flavor.
Serve & Enjoy
Easy Enhancements
Want to jazz up your Thai Iced Tea Recipe? Try sprinkling a pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg on top for an aromatic twist. You can also swap evaporated milk for sweetened condensed milk to add extra richness and sweetness. Fresh mint or a slice of star anise make lovely garnishes that highlight the tea’s warm spice notes.
Tasty Pairings
This vibrant drink pairs wonderfully with light Thai food — think crispy spring rolls, chicken satay skewers, or mango sticky rice for a delightful dessert match. Its sweetness and spice balance the savory and tangy flavors beautifully, making any meal feel like a special occasion.
Quick Plating Tips
Use tall clear glasses to show off that gorgeous orange and creamy white layering. Adding a colorful straw, a sprinkle of crushed ice on top, or a star anise on the rim instantly gives your presentation that festive, authentic vibe.
Store, Freeze & Reheat
Fridge Storage
You can store the brewed Thai iced tea (without milk) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep it chilled in a glass or plastic bottle. Once mixed with milk and ice, it’s best enjoyed immediately to keep the creamy texture fresh.
Freezer Friendly?
This tea doesn’t freeze well because the texture of the milk changes and ice melts unevenly. I recommend skipping the freezer and simply keeping it chilled on ice for best flavor.
Reheat Like New
Since Thai Iced Tea Recipe is traditionally served cold, reheating isn’t usually needed. But if you want a warm variation, heat the brewed tea gently on the stovetop, then add warmed milk and sweeten to taste. Avoid microwaving ice-cold mixtures with milk to prevent curdling or separation.
Thai Iced Tea Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can. Just make sure it’s a strong black tea and add a bit of food coloring if you want the signature orange hue. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.
Evaporated milk is traditional for its creamy body, but coconut milk or half-and-half are great alternatives that offer different richness and flavors. Choose according to your preference.
It varies by taste, but the classic is on the sweeter side to balance tea’s earthiness. Start with 4 tablespoons of sugar and adjust up or down to suit your palate.
Absolutely! Use coconut milk or another plant-based milk instead of evaporated milk. Adjust sweetness to taste and enjoy a delicious vegan-friendly version.
Final Flavor Thoughts
I love how this Thai Iced Tea Recipe never fails to brighten my day with its creamy sweetness and gentle spice notes. If you give it a try, please come back and leave a star rating or share your favorite twist. Maybe next time, test coconut milk or even a splash of vanilla to make it uniquely yours. Happy sipping!
Print📖 Recipe
Thai Iced Tea Recipe
A refreshing and authentic Thai Iced Tea recipe, featuring strong brewed black tea infused with star anise and cardamom, sweetened with sugar, and topped with creamy evaporated or coconut milk. Perfect for a cooling, flavorful beverage with a rich and aromatic taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Tea Base
- 4 cups Water
- 4 tablespoon Thai tea mix or strong black tea
- 4 tablespoon Sugar (adjust according to your preference)
- 4 star anises
- 1 crushed cardamom pod (optional)
Milk & Serving
- ½ cup Evaporated milk, coconut milk, or half-and-half
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Boil Water and Steep Tea: Bring the water to a boil in a pot. Once boiling, turn off the heat and immediately add the Thai tea mix, star anise, and the optional crushed cardamom pod. Let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes depending on how strong you like your tea.
- Add Sugar: Stir the sugar into the hot tea until completely dissolved to ensure a balanced sweetness.
- Strain Tea: Using a fine mesh strainer, strain out the tea leaves and whole spices, discarding the solids, leaving a clear, aromatic tea.
- Chill Tea: Allow the tea to cool to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator until it is fully chilled and cold.
- Prepare Glasses: Fill serving glasses with ice cubes to keep the tea refreshingly cold when poured.
- Pour Tea: Pour the chilled tea over the ice in each glass, leaving enough space at the top for the milk layer.
- Add Milk: Slowly pour the evaporated milk, coconut milk, or half-and-half over the tea. Pour gently so it forms a distinct creamy layer on top before mixing.
- Serve: Serve the Thai Iced Tea with a straw and stir before drinking to combine the flavors.
Notes
- Adjust sugar according to your preferred sweetness level.
- You can substitute star anise and cardamom with other aromatic spices like cinnamon if desired.
- For a vegan version, use coconut milk or other plant-based milks.
- Steeping time affects tea strength; increase steeping for a bolder tea flavor.
- Use strong black tea if Thai tea mix is unavailable, but authentic Thai tea mix produces a distinctive flavor and color.
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