Cha-yen aka «Thai Iced Tea» soooooo sweet & delicious!

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If you ever been to a Thai restaurant in your area, you might have noticed this drink because of its flashy orange color.

I’ve never heard of it before until I went to eat Thai with friends and a friend of mine order this drink. I was very curious because I love everything tea…and I have never heard of “Thai Tea” before. When the drink arrived my friend let me have some, and it’s true the taste was pretty unique. Since it was a new thing to me, I needed to know everything about it, and its origin etc. I tried a lot of them in New York, Philadelphia etc. Bubble tea versions, restaurant version, canned version (Might have gained 4 pounds thank to this “explorational effort” :p but well…). I didn’t go to that many Thai restaurants when I used to live in Europe (I might never been to one there actually). And New York City, Philadelphia and other big cities I guess have a countless numbers of them.

Actually, the “original” Thai Iced tea is a mix of a strongly brewed black tea (Chinese black tea usually), spices (star anise, orange flowers, vanilla, clover, cinnamon…), sugar+++, condensed milk, (I got lost with the evaporated milk thing, so some versions add sugar then evaporated milk), and this red food coloring (in my opinion not necessary).

Most Thai restaurants use sugar and condensed milk to make Thai Iced tea. Lots, and lots and lots and …yeah lots of sugar! That’s why, to me it’s not just a « drink », it’s literally a drinkable dessert.
Restaurant style Thai Iced Tea (The rich orange color is from food coloring)

Thai Iced tea is very popular with girls for some reason. I’ve read a lot of blogs, or threads about Thai Iced Tea and how (usually girls) crave for it. Now Bubble teas are not only popular with teenage girls, but with a larger crowd. You will be able to find a « Thai Bubble Tea » version in most Bubble tea places.

Thai Iced Tea Bubble Tea style at Tea Talk, Philadelphia

Thai Tea Recipe From Scratch 

  • 1 gallon water
  • 8 Chinese star anise, ground
  • 1 tablespoon orange flowers
  • 1 tablespoon powdered vanilla
  • 1 pinch of clove powder
  • 1 pinch chopped cinnamon
  • 3/4 quart long cut China black tea leaves
  • 1 to 2 cups sugar
  • 1 quart half & half
  • red food coloring
  • crushed ice

Boil water. Add star anise, orange flowers, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and tea leaves to boiling water. Continue boiling for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cover and allow to steep until luke warm. Strain, and add sugar to taste. Serve in a clear glass over plenty of crushed ice. Top with half & half.

Traditional Variation: Substitute coconut milk for half & half.
Decaffeinated Variation: Substitute decaffeinated tea leaves.
Low-fat Variation: Substitute evaporated milk or rice milk for half & half.
Natural Variation: Substitute unrefined cane sugar for refined sugar and beet powder for food coloring.

(Source One Letter Words)

In one of the community threads I found someone mentioning a canned version for anyone interest in satisfying irrational cravings. In some places they actually sell them. (At The Little Thai Market inside the Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia). There is actually a Philipino store online selling them, if you’re thinking about ordering call them first to make sure they’re not out, it’s $1 the cane.

Foco Thai Drink found at The Little Thai Market, Philadelphia
Foco canned Thai Iced Tea

If you’re on Yelp and like Thai food, you can also check my Thai Places reviews.

I would like to finish my post with this very artistic video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZImJKPl6spw

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