Cha Yen (Thai Iced Tea)

Cha yen

A ubiquitous drink across Thailand and in Thai restaurants worldwide, cha yen is known to many as Thai iced tea. The drink gets its bright orange color from the use of Thai black tea, which is colored with a yellow food dye known as Sunset Yellow FCF. Recipe Servings: Serves 1

Prep Time

5 minutes
+ 10 minutes resting

Cook Time

5 minutes

Total Time

20 minutes

Vegetarian

Vegan

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Kosher

Halal

Ingredients

1 Tbsp (15 ml) thai black tea
1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
2 tsp (10 ml) sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp (10 ml) evaporated milk + more for garnish
2 tsp (10 ml) sugar
1 cup (140 g) crushed ice

Directions

Boil water in a kettle or pot.
Place Thai black tea into a tea sock and place tea sock in a bowl or large cup. Pour boiling water through tea sock and dip sock into vessel several times to thoroughly moisten tea leaves. Steep for 3–4 minutes until tea turns quite dark in color.
In a mug or glass, pour hot tea until the glass is 3/4 full.
Add sugar and sweetened condensed milk and stir well.
Add 2 teaspooons (10 ml) of evaporated milk and continue to stir tea until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
Cool tea in refrigerator or by pouring between two cups.
Fill a separate cup all the way to the top with crushed ice. Gently pour tea over ice.
Drizzle additional evaporated milk into tea.
Serve immediately.