Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)

Making homemade Thai iced tea is surprisingly easy. This delectable beverage only requires ice, rich condensed milk, and fragrant Thai spices. No synthetic coloring!

Ingredients :

To brew the tea

• 4 tablespoons ceylon loose leaf tea

• 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom

• 1 whole star anise pod

• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or 1 vanilla bean, halved and scraped 

• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

• 1 tablespoon sugar

For serving

• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

• 3 tablespoons whole milk

STEPS :

     1. Brew the tea :

Add the tea leaves, cinnamon stick, cardamom, vanilla bean and scraped out seeds, turmeric, and sugar to a medium saucepan along with 4 cups of water. 

Place the pan on the stove, whisk to incorporate, and reduce the heat to medium-high. To see when the tea boils, use a glass lid or carefully peer under the lid. Turn off the heat when you observe fast bubbles on the rims of the tea. Allow the tea to steep for 3 minutes with the cover on. If you want a stronger tea, steep it for 5 minutes.

     2. Strain and cool the tea : 

Turn off the heat in the pot. Strain the tea into a heat-proof pitcher or quart mason jar using a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Check to see whether there are any little fragments of spice in the strained tea. Allow the tea to come to room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator.

     3. Make the milk mix : 

Combine the condensed milk and milk in a small mixing bowl.

     4. Pour over ice, add the milk mix, and serve : 

When the tea has cooled, fill a glass halfway with ice. Pour the ice-cold tea over it. Then, to taste, top the tea with the milk mixture.

     5. Store : 

When storing your brewed Thai tea, don't add the milk combination until you're ready to serve. Thai tea (no milk) can be stored in a pitcher or big container with a tight-fitting lid for up to 7 days. Refrigerate the milk mixture in a separate container. Combine ice, Thai tea, condensed milk, and milk floating on top when ready to drink.

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