Thai tea is a popular beverage in Thailand. It is also expanding to various parts of Asia starting from Southeast Asia, especially its neighboring countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
It is generally made out of heavily brewed black tea leaves that are further infused with herbal spices such as star anise, cardamom, and cloves.
When ready for usage and consumption, Thai tea is then sweetened with condensed milk, coconut milk for vegans, sugar, and other additional toppings such as grass jelly, coconut jelly, and pearls to create the sweet and creamy flavor, that we all know as “Thai tea”.
In this blog post, I will discuss some descriptions of Thai tea, especially its aroma, and taste.
If you have read my previous blog about the popular variations of Thai tea, then this will give you a more in-depth perspective on Thai tea.
Benefits of Thai Tea
Thai tea is a wonderful, unique beverage with several health benefits in addition to its delicious flavor.
Thus, what is good about Thai tea? According to the research by WebMD, these are some of the nourishment and values provided by Thai tea:
| Reasons | Explanations |
| Unique Flavors | Thai tea has a peculiar flavor that makes it stand out from other types of tea thanks to its special blend of tea leaves, spices, and sweeteners. |
| Texture | Thai tea frequently contains a significant amount of condensed milk, which gives it a smooth and creamy texture that many people find appealing. |
| Refreshment | Thai tea is frequently served cold and is a cool beverage to have on a hot day. The mix of tea, milk, and ice is the ideal method to stay cool while savoring a tasty beverage. |
| Healthy | Thai tea is nutritious since it is prepared from black tea leaves, which are renowned for their high antioxidant content and health advantages. Also, it contains healthy herbs and spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise. |
Why do people like Thai tea?
When tea drinkers are looking for something unique, Thai tea is a popular choice. A feature of Thai cuisine, it is a unique and tasty beverage.
Thai tea has a vibrant orange color that is pleasing to the eye and is typically served in clear glasses, making it an aesthetically pleasing beverage.
Thai tea can be consumed in a variety of ways, and a diversity of drinks can be made using a different combination of the products used with it.
In the bargain, the most intriguing thing differentiating Thai tea from other tea is that it can be drunk both hot and cold, and the flavor will still be rooted in the drink.
Thai tea is currently thought of as a reflection of Thai culture and is commonly associated with Thai cuisine. Those who desire to immerse themselves in another culture enjoy Thai tea.
Taste of Thai Tea
Assuming you request it without the addition of sugar or condensed milk, Thai milk tea will undoubtedly be sweet if you’ve never tried it.
Thai tea is a fantastic and delightful beverage that will appeal to anybody looking for a sweet drink with a particularly unique flavor. It has an earthy and nutty flavor.
Thai tea offers a distinctive and deep flavor that provides a combination of sweetness, creaminess, and spice. It has a creamy texture close to a latte or cappuccino with a pleasant flavor owing to the evaporated milk used with it.
Whilst the spices used in Thai tea give it a warm, aromatic flavor and the sweetened condensed milk gives it a rich, sweet taste.
Therefore, the taste that you will get is a sweet nutty flavor, with a tint of spices and tea herbs.
The Color of Thai Tea
Thai tea’s orange hue is from the usual combination of black tea leaves with various spices and extra food coloring. Thai tea typically contains bold orange food coloring, giving the beverage its distinctive orange appearance.
The most popular food coloring for Thai tea in Thailand is annatto, which comes from the seeds of the achiote tree. The moderate flavor of annatto is mostly used as a food coloring to give the tea its vivid orange glow.
It’s also imperative to remember that Thai tea’s color might change based on the type of tea leaves used and the proportion of spices and food coloring added. Depending on the recipe and ingredients, certain variations of Thai tea may have a brighter yellow or reddish hue.
Indeed, Thai tea is most frequently consumed in this color, which is also the most common. This video below will enable you to understand more about the color of Thai tea, so make sure to check it out.
Flavor Notes in Thai Tea
As I have mentioned above regarding the flavors of Thai tea, the specific taste notes may vary depending on the recipe and ingredients used, but typically Thai tea has the following flavor characteristics:
- Sweetness: Thai tea is usually sweetened with sugar or sweetened condensed milk. It, therefore, has a distinct sweetness that is balanced by other flavors.
- Creaminess: When milk or cream is added to Thai tea, a rich creamy texture like that of a latte or cappuccino results.
- Spiciness: I am not referring to the spiciness from chilis, but the spicy feeling from various spices indebted in the tea. Star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom are common spices used to flavor Thai tea, giving it a warm and fragrant taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Thai Tea Served in Thailand?
Thai tea is frequently served over ice with a straw in a clear cup to give out a refreshing feeling, which is the most common variation of Thai tea. However, it is also occasionally served hot, especially in the cooler months, as people may have caught a cold.
Is Thai Tea Vegan?
Thai tea recipes traditionally use sweetened condensed milk in their end products, which are made from dairy and, hence, not vegan. Nonetheless, as I have said, Thai tea is unique because it can be customized to fit the customer’s preferences and likings. Therefore, you may make vegan Thai tea by adding non-dairy milk alternatives and sweeteners like coconut milk or almond milk.
Does Thai Tea have Caffeine?
Yes, Thai tea does have caffeine. This is because, black tea leaves, which naturally contain caffeine, are used to make Thai tea. Although it is caffeinated, the exact amount will depend on the recipe and the quality of the tea used. Therefore, moderate daily consumption is advised, especially for kids, pregnant women, and elders.
What Happens if You Drink Thai Tea Excessively?
Thai tea contains sugar and caffeine, which might be harmful to your health if you drink too much of it. Moreover, consuming too much caffeine can cause high blood pressure, an accelerated heart rate, and other cardiovascular issues.
Does Thai Tea Keep You Awake?
Indeed, Thai tea is an energizing drink. It is frequently made with sweeteners and black tea that contains caffeine. These two aspects can maintain your alertness and energy. However, Thai tea and coffee are two different things, because the caffeinated levels are different, so Thai tea cannot be a replacement for coffee.
Conclusion
- Thai tea is a popular beverage in Thailand. It is also expanding to various parts of Asia starting from Southeast Asia, especially its neighboring countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
- When ready for usage and consumption, Thai tea is then sweetened with condensed milk, coconut milk for vegans, sugar, and other additional toppings such as grass jelly, coconut jelly, and pearls to create the sweet and creamy flavor, that we all know as “Thai tea”.
- It’s also imperative to remember that Thai tea’s color might change based on the type of tea leaves used and the proportion of spices and food coloring added. Depending on the recipe and ingredients, certain variations of Thai tea may have a brighter yellow or reddish hue.
- Thai tea is a fantastic and delightful beverage that will appeal to anybody looking for a sweet drink with a particularly unique flavor. It has an earthy and nutty flavor.