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What Is Thai Tea Made Of?
That glowing orange glass is simpler than it looks. Thai tea is built from a spiced black-tea base, sugar, and two kinds of milk. Here's exactly what's in it - and what each ingredient does.
The core ingredients
1. Roasted black tea
The backbone is a strong, heavily roasted black tea - usually Assam or Ceylon. The roast deepens the brew to a reddish-brown and gives the bold, malty flavor that survives a heavy pour of milk and sugar.
2. Spices
Authentic Thai tea mix is scented with star anise (a sweet, licorice note) and crushed tamarind seed (a subtle tartness), sometimes with a touch of vanilla. These spices are what make it taste like Thai tea and not just sweet black tea.
3. Sugar
Sugar is steeped or stirred into the hot tea. Thai tea is meant to be sweet - it's a treat, not a plain cuppa.
4. Food coloring
The signature orange usually comes from added coloring (commonly Sunset Yellow FCF) blended into the mix. It's cosmetic - the flavor comes from the tea and spices, not the dye. You can buy uncolored blends if you'd rather skip it.
5. Sweetened condensed & evaporated milk
Two milks, two jobs. Sweetened condensed milk is stirred into the hot tea for body and sweetness; evaporated milk is floated on top for the creamy two-tone swirl.
The shortcut: Thai tea mix
Nearly every street stall uses a pre-made blend - the tea, spices, sugar, and coloring already combined. The most common is ChaTraMue ("Number One Brand"), which is why a home batch made with it tastes just like the vendor's.
Everything in the tea base - roasted tea, star anise, tamarind, and coloring - in one bag. Makes ~50 glasses.
Check price on Amazon →Is it the same as the dessert versions?
The drink is the base; the flavor also shows up in ice cream, cake, and cookies, all built on a strong Thai tea concentrate.
FAQ
What is Thai tea made of?
Strongly roasted black tea, spices (star anise and tamarind seed, sometimes vanilla), sugar, and food coloring make up the tea base. It's then sweetened and lightened with sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk.
What gives Thai tea its orange color?
Most of the vivid orange comes from added food coloring (usually Sunset Yellow) in the tea mix, amplified by the roasted tea and the milk.
What tea is used in Thai tea?
A strong, heavily roasted black tea - typically Assam or Ceylon - which gives the bold, malty base that stands up to the milk and sugar.
Keep reading
- Why is Thai tea orange?
- What does Thai tea taste like?
- Best Thai tea brands
- The authentic Cha Yen recipe
Disclosure: this page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Chaayen earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We only link gear we’d brew with.