What does Thai iced tea taste like?
Thai iced tea tastes like sweet, creamy, vanilla-scented black tea: strong tea mellowed with condensed milk, with a hint of spice and a bright orange color.
Thai iced tea
sweet, creamy orange tea
Thai iced tea, or cha yen, is strongly brewed black tea, often from a Thai tea mix that can include vanilla and spices like star anise, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and poured over ice, sometimes with evaporated milk or half-and-half floated on top. The tea is bold and slightly bitter, but the milk turns it rich, sweet and dessert-like. The famous orange color usually comes from food coloring in the mix, not the tea itself. It's the classic cool-down drink with spicy Thai food.
Where you’ll see it
At almost every Thai restaurant, served in a tall glass over ice, often with the cream floating on top so it swirls when you stir. Boba shops serve it with tapioca pearls.
Order it if you want something sweet and creamy to tame spicy food.
Quick questions
- Why is Thai iced tea orange?
- Mostly from food coloring in many Thai tea mixes. The tea itself is a reddish brown, and the milk lightens it.
- Does Thai iced tea have caffeine?
- Yes. It is made from black tea, brewed strong, so it has a fair amount, though usually less than coffee.