Easy Creamy Thai Iced Tea
A quick and easy recipe for creamy Thai iced tea with bold black tea, fragrant spices, and a silky blend of sweetened condensed and evaporated milk. Perfect for a refreshing treat any time.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tablespoons black tea leaves (Assam or Ceylon recommended)
- 4 cups (1 liter) water, freshly boiled
- 2 whole star anise pieces
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- ½ cup (120 ml) sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ice cubes, as needed (preferably large cubes)
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups (1 liter) of water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan.
- Add black tea leaves, star anise, and cinnamon stick. Reduce heat to low and steep for 5-7 minutes until deep amber and fragrant.
- Remove from heat and strain tea through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a heatproof pitcher, pressing gently on leaves to extract flavor.
- While tea is still warm, stir in ½ cup sweetened condensed milk, ½ cup evaporated milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until fully combined. Adjust sweetness if desired.
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Serve over tall glasses filled with large ice cubes. Stir gently to swirl the creamy layer and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Use robust black tea like Assam or Thai tea blend for best flavor. Avoid oversteeping to prevent bitterness. Large ice cubes keep the tea cold longer without diluting. For dairy-free, substitute evaporated milk with coconut milk and use sweetened coconut condensed milk if available. Stir gently after adding milk to maintain a creamy opaque look.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 20
- Fat: 6
- Protein: 3
Keywords: Thai iced tea, creamy Thai tea, iced tea recipe, sweetened condensed milk tea, star anise tea, easy Thai drink