Home › The Brew Lab › Batching & Concentrates
Batching & Concentrates
A strong, unsweetened Thai tea concentrate is the secret weapon of efficient brewers: make it once, then build lattes, cocktails, and desserts in seconds for days.
Why make a concentrate
A concentrate separates brewing from serving. Instead of steeping every time, you keep a potent base in the fridge and add milk, ice, or spirits on demand - perfect for households, parties, or anyone who drinks Cha Yen daily.
The base recipe
- Brew strong. Steep 8 tbsp Thai tea mix in 3 cups hot water for 5 minutes (or cold-brew 16 hours).
- Strain well through a cloth sock - twice if needed for clarity.
- Cool and bottle unsweetened in a clean sealed bottle.
- Label the date. Keeps 4-5 days refrigerated.
Five ways to use it
- Quick Cha Yen. 2 parts concentrate, 1 part condensed milk, over ice.
- Thai tea latte. Equal parts concentrate and steamed milk; sweeten lightly.
- Thai tea cocktail. Concentrate + spiced rum + a touch of condensed milk, shaken over ice.
- Popsicles. Sweeten, add a splash of coconut milk, freeze.
- Affogato / desserts. Pour warm concentrate over vanilla ice cream.
Gear for batching
Brew a potent, consistent base - one bag makes many bottles of concentrate.
Check price on Amazon →
Strains a clean concentrate without fine sediment.
Check price on Amazon →Ratios at a glance
| Use | Concentrate : Liquid |
|---|---|
| Iced Cha Yen | 2 : 1 (milk) |
| Hot/iced latte | 1 : 1 (milk) |
| Cocktail | 2 : 1 : splash (spirit + condensed milk) |
FAQ
How concentrated should it be?
Aim for roughly double normal strength so it still tastes full after you add milk or ice.
Can I freeze the concentrate?
Yes - freeze unsweetened concentrate in ice-cube trays for single-serve portions that won't dilute your drink.
Keep reading
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.