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Thai Tea Smoothie (Blended Cha Yen)
Think of this as cha yen in frappe form: the same spiced orange tea, blended thick and frosty with milk and ice. It's the café "Thai tea frappe" you pay extra for - made at home in five minutes for the price of a spoon of condensed milk.
The trick: freeze the tea
A smoothie made with plain ice gets watery fast. The fix is to freeze your Thai tea concentrate into ice cubes and blend those instead. You get a thick, intensely flavored frappe that doesn't dilute - the same move good cafés use for their Thai tea frappes.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup strong Thai tea concentrate (chilled, or frozen into cubes)
- 1/2 cup milk (dairy, oat, or coconut)
- 2-3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk (to taste)
- 1 cup ice (or use the frozen tea cubes)
- Optional: 1/2 frozen banana or 1 scoop vanilla ice cream for extra body
- Whipped cream + tea powder, to top
Cha Yen Frappe
Method
- Prep the tea. Brew a strong concentrate (steep 3 tbsp mix in 3/4 cup hot water, strain). Chill it, or freeze into an ice tray for a thicker smoothie.
- Load the blender. Add the tea, milk, condensed milk, and ice (plus banana or ice cream if using).
- Blend. Run until thick and smooth. Add a splash more milk if it's too stiff, or more ice if too thin.
- Serve. Pour into a tall glass, top with whipped cream, and dust with a little tea powder.
The mix that matters
Brews the strong, vivid concentrate that keeps the smoothie tasting like real Thai tea instead of sweet milk.
Check price on Amazon →FAQ
Can I make it vegan?
Yes - use oat or coconut milk and swap the condensed milk for coconut condensed milk or a couple of pitted dates blended in.
Smoothie vs frappe vs slushie?
It's all about texture. More milk = smoothie; more frozen tea cubes = frappe; mostly ice with a little tea = slushie. Same ingredients, different ratios.
No blender?
Use a cocktail shaker with crushed ice for a lighter, shaken version - not as thick, but still cold and frothy.
Keep reading
- Blend in a scoop of Thai tea ice cream
- Add boba for a Thai milk tea
- The authentic street-style cha yen
- Watch: Thai tea recipes on video
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