• Thai Cooking Classes
  • Thai Recipes
  • Get the FREE Guide!
  • Latest Posts
  • About
    • A Thai-Foodie Love Story
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Thai Cooking Classes
  • Thai Recipes
  • Get the FREE Guide!
  • Latest Posts
  • About
    • A Thai-Foodie Love Story
  • Contact
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    search for your fav thai recipe

Thai-Foodie.com logo

Thai-Foodie

A Thai Food Love Affair

How to Make Thai Milk Tea | Cha Yen

July 17, 2023 · In: Drinks

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
35 Popular Thai Dishes | thai-foodie.com

Love drinking Thai milk tea at your favorite Thai place? Make it at home! Easier, more affordable and tastes even better!

What are Thai iced tea ingredients?

The loose leaves in Thai iced tea are made from a flavorful mix of spices and Ceylon tea leaves, which is a black tea (Yes! Thai tea is caffeinated!). Thai iced tea ingredients are:

  • loose leaf Thai tea 
  • sweetened condensed milk
  • milk of choice
  • sugar (optional)
  • crushed ice

Just like most Thai food, everyone likes their Thai Tea made a certain way. 

I like mine not as sweet, and more creamy with a strong Thai tea flavor. So for me, I put in sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, ice and no sugar. 

How do you like yours? 

< >

Where can you buy Thai iced tea ingredients?

If you are at the local Asian market, you can usually find a package of Thai tea loose leaf on the aisle with all the teas from all over the world. 

  • Look for Thai loose leaf tea brands like Pantai or Number-One ChaTraMue

How do you make Thai milk tea?

To make it at home, bring 5 cups of water to a boil. Take the water off the heat, add ยพ cup of Thai tea leaves straight to the pot, and give it a stir.

Let it steep for 4 minutes. Then strain the tea leaves with a fine mesh strainer or a tea sock into a pitcher.

While the tea is still hot, add โ…” cup of sweetened condensed milk and stir it up. Then add 2 cups of milk of choice. 

Refrigerate until cold, and then serve with ice. 

35 Popular Thai Dishes | thai-foodie.com

Where does Thai milk tea come from?

No one is quite sure when Cha Yen, which in Thai means cold tea started up, but some think it was a lingering influence from Pibul Songkram, a Thai leader who loved western culture, like adding milk to tea, which was a new concept since Thais normally donโ€™t have much dairy in their diet.

What makes Thai milk tea so orange?

It’s is orange from orange food coloring that is added to the tea leaves.

But why did Thais start adding orange food coloring to Thai tea??

35 Popular Thai Dishes | thai-foodie.com

No one really knows for sure, but my favorite story about why it is orange is that tea drinking was introduced to Thailand sometime during 1804-1854 when British and other foreigners living in Thailand brought their own tea with them.

Thai workers would brew the tea and serve it to their British bosses. Then, instead of throwing out the tea leaves, the Thai workers would brew the same tea leaves again for themselves. 

Since the flavor and color would be weaker, the Thais added orange food coloring and flavors that are now in the Thai tea spice mix to extend the life of the tea and also to make it look prettier to drink.

Does Thai milk tea have caffeine?

It does have caffeine. Thai milk tea is made with a mix of black Ceylon tea leaves and spices, and has 30-60 mg of caffeine. A regular cup of coffee typically contains around 95 mg of caffeine. So if you are looking for a drink that will wake you up, but not make you too jittery, Thai milk tea is a perfect choice!

Are Thai tea loose leaves or instant Thai tea mix better?

I prefer making it with loose leaves because the instant Thai tea mixes have added sugar and milk powder, so you canโ€™t really control the sweetness.ย 

If you use the Thai tea loose leaves, you add your own sweetened condensed milk, and milk to taste. But really it’s up to you and what you prefer!

Sherriโ€™s Story

35 Popular Thai Dishes | thai-foodie.com

My drink of choice in Bangkok when I lived there was usually Thai tea or iced Thai lime tea, or iced Thai coffee. I would get at least one of these magical drinks a day.

I hadnโ€™t tried making it in America until weโ€™d been back in America a few years. I was at the Asian market when I spotted loose leaf Thai Tea Mix hiding on a shelf.ย 

And not just the instant Thai Milk Tea packet with sugar, milk, with some powdered tea in it Thai tea packets, but the actual loose Thai tea leaves. So I bought it, and couldnโ€™t wait to make it. And once I did, I was astonished at how crazy easy it is to make at home.

My Thai hubby thought I was weird, as usual. He had never made Thai Milk Tea at home in Thailand using loose leaf Thai tea. 

 Like most Thais, he thought, why make Cha Yen at home when you can buy it on the street made by an expert for a dollar?

But this is America where you canโ€™t buy it on the street, and when you buy it in a restaurant itโ€™s $5 and not that amazing.

But when you donโ€™t live in Thailand, and are craving Cha Yen and make it at home, while you smell it steeping and take your first sip, for a moment it feels like you’ve escaped to the Bangkok streets while standing in your kitchen!

Yes please!

Once you use this recipe to learn how to make Thai Milk Tea, share your Thai milk tea pic with me on Instagram @thaifoodie, I wanna see!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
35 Popular Thai Dishes | thai-foodie.com

How to Make Thai Milk Tea | Cha Yen


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: Sherri Pengjad
  • Total Time: 12
  • Yield: 7 cups of tea 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Love drinking Thai milk tea at your favorite Thai place? Make it at home! Easier, more affordable and tastes even better!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 c. water
  • 3/4 c. Thai Tea Mix
  • 2/3 cup (or to taste) sweetened condensed milk
  • Sugar to taste (optional)
  • 2 cups (or to taste) of your favorite milk
  • ice

Instructions

  1. Boil 5 cups of water in a medium sized pot.
  2. Once the water boils, turn it off, and put the leaves straight into the water.
  3. Let tea seep uncovered, off the burner, 4 minutes.
  4. Use a fine mesh strainer or a tea sock to strain the tea into another pot or bowl.
  5. Add in sweetened condensed milk to taste when the tea is still hot, so it can dissolve easier. Stir vigorously to help it dissolve.
  6. I don’t add any sugar because I think it’s sweet enough from the sweetened condensed milk, but feel free to add some if you like it sweeter.
  7. Add milk of your choice to taste.
  8. Put ice in each glass, pour and enjoy!
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Stove-top
  • Cuisine: Thai

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thaifoodie on Instagram

By: Sherri Pengjad ยท In: Drinks

you’ll also love

Thai Mango Coconut Smoothie-Thai-Foodie Easy Thai Mango Coconut Smoothie
Thai Iced Tea with Lime Recipe Thai Iced Tea with Lime Recipe | Cha Ma Nao | เธŠเธฒเธกเธฐเธ™เธฒเธง

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dawn says

    November 26, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    Oh how interesting looking tea!!
    Must try this one out!! >_<

    Reply
  2. Sherri Phengchard says

    December 2, 2013 at 8:04 pm

    Yeah Dawny! You will love it! I can’t wait to post my Thai coffee one cuz you would adore that too! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  3. Chrissy says

    February 25, 2017 at 10:42 pm

    Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!! I LOVE Thai Iced Milk Tea, and am so glad that you shared this recipe (and the link to where to buy the tea). My foodie life is now complete. ๐Ÿ™‚
    You are awesome Sherri!

    Reply
    • Sherri Pengjad says

      February 27, 2017 at 4:10 pm

      Yay! Im so glad that I helped complete your foodie life ๐Ÿ˜‰ It’s my pleasure! Hope you enjoy making it at home!

      Reply
  4. rachel says

    September 2, 2018 at 2:35 pm

    your blog is inspiring, sherry! your cabin is lovely. i’m going to make thai tea this week. and i LOVE caffe driade. my favorite spot when i was at chapel hill. i think we’re destined to be friends, ha! xo, rachel

    Reply
    • Sherri Pengjad says

      September 5, 2018 at 12:37 pm

      Thanks so much Rachel for your kind and encouraging words!! I love that you love Thai tea and Caffe Driade!! I agree, we were totally destined to be friends ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  5. Katie C says

    July 18, 2023 at 1:03 am

    Ahhhhh seeetened condensed milk, no wonder! Haha! I am hoping i will find this tea in our Asian grocery store here in Cali ๐Ÿ™‚ to avoid Amazon ordering! Haha

    Reply
    • Sherri Pengjad says

      July 21, 2023 at 9:19 am

      Yes! I hope you find it at your local Asian market! That’s my preferred way of buying Asian ingredients too! Shop local!

      Reply
  6. Mila says

    March 4, 2025 at 12:06 pm

    Love how this Thai tea isn’t too sweet, and is creamy! So good!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Waktunya Minum Teh! | Plasa MSN Aquila Style : Najwa Abdullah | Kanal Gaya Hidup PlasaMSN says:
    January 10, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    […] Thai Milk Tea Recipe Kombinasi sederhana dari teh dan susu kental manis, disajikan dingin atau panas, adalah teman yang […]

    Reply
  2. Nam Tok Recipe: Thai Steak Salad | เน€เธ™เธทเน‰เธญเธ™เน‰เธณเธ•เธ | Thai-Foodie | Thai Foodie says:
    January 30, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    […] picking up a creamy chayen, Thai iced milk tea, at the next vendor up, we would head back to school to eat before our next classes started. After […]

    Reply
  3. May Thai Tea Date | Thai Foodie says:
    May 16, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    […] blog, and who doesn’t love some good Thai tea? Sipping some now as I type! I’ve got a Thai Milk Tea recipeย or Thai Lime Iced Tea if you need some, go make it, and come […]

    Reply
  4. May Thai Tea Date โ€“ Thai Foodie – All Recipes says:
    October 28, 2018 at 6:31 am

    […] recipes blog, and who doesnโ€™t love some good Thai tea? Sipping some now as I type! Iโ€™ve got a Thai Milk Tea recipeย or Thai Lime Iced Tea if you need some, go make it, and come […]

    Reply
  5. June Thai The Date | Thai Foodie says:
    June 4, 2019 at 1:23 pm

    […] sipping the last of my Thai tea that was in my fridge (don’t tell my kids because they would fight me for it!) It’s […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Next Post >

How to Make Pad Mama | Instant Ramen Stir-Fry

Primary Sidebar

meet sherri

meet sherri
meet sherri

hey dear! wanna know how I fell in love with Thai food, Thai Hubby and Thai cooking?

get all the deets here

find your fav thai recipe

Connect

Featured Posts

Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice | thai-foodie.com

Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice (Thai Style) โ€“ Easy Weeknight Recipe

thai khao pad in wok

Easy Thai Khao Pad (Better Than Takeout Fried Rice!)

thai vegetable fried rice

Vegetable Thai Fried Rice

Advertise

SiteGround Ad

get free substitution hacks!

Want to Cook Thai Without the Asian Market?

Grab my FREE Substitution Hacks Guide โ€” smart swaps for hard-to-find Thai ingredients so you can make authentic Thai food with whatโ€™s already in your kitchen.

Copyright © 2025 ยท Theme by 17th Avenue