Ingredients
Using Thai Tea Mix
- 4 cups boiling water
- 2/3 cup Thai Tea Mix
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk (or granulated sugar)
- Ice, as needed
- 1/4 cup half and half or light cream (or evaporated milk, or full fat oat milk for dairy-free option)
Using Tea Bags
- 4 cups water
- 4 black tea bags
- 1 chai tea bag (optional, for warmer flavor; can replace with 1 additional black tea bag)
- 2 star anise
- 1-2 whole cloves (1 for milder flavor, 2 for spicier)
- 1 cardamom pod
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1-2 teaspoons ground turmeric (optional, for light color and slight flavor)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk (or granulated sugar)
- Ice, as needed
- 1/4 cup half and half or light cream (or evaporated milk, or full fat oat milk for dairy-free option)
Instructions
- Using Tea Mix: Add the boiling water to the Thai tea mix in a pitcher, stir well, and allow it to steep and cool for 2 hours.
- Strain Tea Mix: Strain the steeped tea into a measuring cup or another pitcher to remove the tea leaves.
- Prepare Glasses: Divide the sweetened condensed milk evenly across the bottom of two tall glasses. Fill each glass halfway with ice.
- Assemble Drink: Pour the strained tea over the ice in each glass and finish with a splash (about 2 tablespoons) of half and half or light cream. Stir well before enjoying.
- Using Tea Bags: In a medium pot, combine water, tea bags (remove tags and staples), star anise, cloves, cardamom pod, cinnamon stick, and turmeric. If using loose leaf tea, add about 3 tablespoons directly to the water.
- Cook Tea Bags: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and gently boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Allow the tea to steep and cool for 2 hours.
- Strain Tea Bags: Strain the cooled tea through a fine mesh strainer lined with several layers of folded cheesecloth to remove spices and fine turmeric granules.
- Prepare Glasses: Divide the sweetened condensed milk across 2 tall glasses and fill halfway with ice.
- Assemble Drink: Pour the strained tea over the ice, finish with a splash (2 tablespoons) of half and half or light cream, and stir before serving.
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, substitute half and half with evaporated milk or full fat oat milk.
- Adjust the number of cloves to control the spiciness of the tea.
- Turmeric is optional and adds a mild earthy flavor and light color to the tea.
- Sweetened condensed milk can be replaced with granulated sugar if preferred.
- Use chai tea bag for a warmer, spiced flavor or replace it with a black tea bag if you prefer.
- Steeping time of 2 hours is crucial for developing the full flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
