Recipe for Thai Iced Tea
Yes, Thai iced tea is a delightful beverage! It shares similarities with chai tea, as both are crafted from black tea and aromatic spices like clove and cardamom. However, Thai tea stands out with its distinct orange hue and creamy texture, achieved by incorporating coconut milk.
Black tea offers numerous health benefits and is a staple in many Asian cultures, enjoyed in both hot and cold forms. This Thai iced tea recipe, featuring black tea, orange blossom tea, antioxidant-rich spices, and coconut milk, is not only delicious but also nutritious. With its healthy fats and potential to boost energy while possibly reducing inflammation, it serves as a satisfying treat or a refreshing pick-me-up, especially after a long day.
What Is Thai Iced Tea
In Thailand, Thai iced tea is commonly found in coffee shops, street carts, and restaurants. Traditionally, it's prepared using black tea, condensed milk, and crushed ice.
Occasionally, it's infused with star anise for a sweet, licorice-like flavor, along with orange blossom water. However, as Thai iced tea has become popular worldwide, its recipes have evolved to include various sweeteners and even food coloring to achieve its signature vibrant orange hue.
In this Thai iced tea recipe, we harken back to its traditional roots by using natural ingredients and omitting artificial sweeteners. We've added a personal touch by substituting condensed milk with coconut milk. Why coconut milk? Because it's rich in healthy fats, such as lauric acid, and is suitable for individuals with food allergies as it's free from dairy, soy, nuts, and grains.
Moreover, coconut milk lends a delightful creamy richness that complements the spices typically found in Thai iced tea.
In this recipe, along with black tea and coconut milk, I incorporate star anise, whole cloves, cardamom, vanilla extract, and orange blossom tea (or orange zest) to achieve the authentic flavor of Thai iced tea.
The star anise and cloves are key ingredients that impart the signature orange hue to Thai iced tea. Unlike commercial or Westernized versions that often rely on artificial food coloring, this recipe stays true to the traditional preparation method, emphasizing natural ingredients for authenticity.
For those desiring a more vibrant orange color, a tablespoon of cold-pressed carrot juice can be added to each cup of tea, enhancing both the appearance and flavor.
The caffeine content in Thai iced tea can vary. Black tea, one of its primary ingredients, contains moderate levels of caffeine, with approximately 42 milligrams per eight ounces.
If caffeinated orange blossom tea bags are used in the recipe, the caffeine content will be higher. However, decaffeinated options are available for both black tea and orange blossom tea, catering to those who prefer to limit their caffeine intake.
This Thai iced tea recipe offers a rich and flavorful experience, providing a pleasant pick-me-up as well. With just about 15 minutes of preparation time, it's quick and convenient to make. Give it a try and share your thoughts with us!
Nutrition Facts
One serving of this Thai iced tea made using this recipe contains roughly the following:
- 104 calories
- 1 gram protein
- 7 grams fat
- 10 grams carbohydrates
- 1 gram fiber
- 7 grams sugar
- 1.3 milligrams manganese (76 percent DV)
- 0.16 milligrams vitamin B2 (15 percent DV)
- 0.11 milligrams copper (12 percent DV)
How to make Thai iced tea
To begin making Thai iced tea, select a large cup or pitcher with a slanted edge for easy pouring and storage of any leftovers in the refrigerator.
Start by adding one cup of hot, boiled water to your pitcher. Then, place two organic black tea bags and two organic orange blossom tea bags (or one teaspoon of orange zest) into the pitcher. If desired, add one tablespoon of maple syrup for a touch of extra sweetness.
After adding the tea bags, spices, and sweetener to the pitcher, include 4 whole cloves, 2 star anise, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of cardamom. Stir the ingredients thoroughly, allowing the tea to steep for approximately 8–10 minutes.
Once steeped, it's time to incorporate ½ cup of cold water into your Thai iced tea mixture.
After steeping, strain the tea mixture through a mesh strainer to remove the tea bags, star anise, cloves, and any other spices.
Once strained, fill two tall glasses to the brim with ice. Evenly distribute the strained Thai iced tea between the two glasses.
The final step is to top each glass of Thai iced tea with coconut milk, allowing it to cascade down the sides for a visually appealing presentation. Give the tea a final gentle stir to ensure the flavors are well combined.
That's it! Your delicious Thai iced tea is now ready to be enjoyed.
Thai Iced Tea Recipe
Thai iced tea shares similarities with chai tea, as both are crafted from black tea and infused with aromatic spices such as clove and cardamom. However, what sets Thai iced tea apart is its distinctive orange hue and creamy texture, achieved by incorporating coconut milk. This delightful beverage is not only super satisfying but also serves as a delightful treat or pick-me-up after a long day.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup hot, boiled water
- ½ cup cold water
- 4 cloves, whole
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cardamom
- 2 star anise
- 2 organic black tea bags
- 2 organic orange blossom tea bags or 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large cup with a slanted edge for pouring, combine all ingredients except for the cold water and coconut milk.
- Stir ingredients and steep tea for 8–10 minutes.
- Add ½ cup of cold water.
- Fill two tall glasses to the brim with ice.
- Using a small mesh strainer, pour tea evenly between two glasses.
- Top each glass with coconut milk, stir and serve.
NUTRITION
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 104
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 5.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 0.7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
