You might need some energizing beverages that could help you to kick-start your morning and assist you in staying awake the whole day.
I know the struggle is real when you try to keep yourself active and attentive throughout the day. In order to do so, people consider coffee, tea, or energy drinks as they contain caffeine. Tea is another common beverage that could help you start a fresh day.
Nowadays, people drink cold beverages like Thai tea as the coldness triggers the mind to wake up as compared to hot ones. Hot beverages might help you relax but cold ones would be best if you really want to kick-start your day.
But you might be wondering, “Is Thai tea healthy?”
Basically, Thai tea can be healthy for you if you drink it occasionally or in moderation. It contains ingredients like cloves, star anise, and cardamom, which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Read through this blog post to learn whether Thai tea can be healthy for you or not.
Is Caffeine Harmful to Health?
Sometime before, coffee was the major support for me to make my mind fresh in the morning but the problem that made me stop drinking was my stomach issues. As I have a weak stomach, it was difficult for me to consume a cup of coffee in the morning as it can disturb my digestive system.
That consumption of heavy quantities of caffeine leads to irritable bowel syndrome and so I have to stop it. After that, I was really struggling to keep my eyes open throughout the day; so I started taking Thai tea to maintain my caffeine intake, and it helped me become more energetic for the rest of the day.
Simply put, caffeine can boost your energy levels. However, if you consume it excessively, it can pose some health risks, such as follows:
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Fast heart rate
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Jitters
- Caffeine dependency
Does Thai Tea Contain a High Caffeine Content?
Every beverage with a high quantity of caffeine can be unhealthy. Now, there is a new replacement for caffeine as known as taurine which most energy drinks have. However, consumption of both of these in excess is dangerous.
Tea contains less quantity of caffeine as compared to coffee and energy drinks. This is often true for both regular tea and Thai tea.
However, in Thai tea, caffeine is not the sole reason of source of energy rather it consists of many other beneficial ingredients which make this beverage healthy.
Despite having caffeine, Thai tea is considered a healthy drink to consume because of the benefits its individual ingredients can provide to the body. Moreover, it’s an iced tea so it is unlikely to increase your body temperature.
Does Thai Tea Have Health Benefits?
Thai tea is one of the best beverages I have ever tried. Even foreigners look for Thai tea whenever they visit Thailand.
Some health benefits of Thai tea are listed below:
- As Thailand has hot and cold weather, this soothing iced tea can balance body temperature.
- Oftentimes, it does not have any artificial or unhealthy content but has Assam leaves which are good sources of caffeine.
- Spices such as star anise, cloves, and cardamom are famous for their anti-inflammatory effects.
I prefer Thai tea as a regular drinking beverage because I find it better and healthier compared to other drinks.
Is Thai Tea Better Than Regular Tea?
Let’s have a one-to-one comparison between the two kinds of tea.
| Regular Tea | Thai Tea | |
| Caffeine | 40 mg approx. | 45-50 mg approx. |
| Temperature | Usually served hot | Served cold |
| Ingredients | Tea leaves, sugar, milk, sugar, and water | Tea leaves, tamarind, cloves, star anise, condensed milk, and sugar |
According to scientific facts, consuming caffeinated beverages excessively on a daily basis can lead to caffeine dependence, which can be dangerous.
As Thai tea contains caffeine, you should also limit your consumption as the body needs balanced nutrition.
If you want to make a delicious cup of Thai tea, you can follow this recipe.
Does the Artificial Flavor in Thai Tea Have Side Effects?
The original Thai tea has no artificial taste. However, for youngsters, there is a new addition of flavors so they can enjoy variations across their tea.
Common flavors of Thai tea are cocoa, vanilla, and other fruit flavors, which are healthy and often have no side effects.
Like common beverages of the current trend, Thai tea doesn’t have any fizz or additional soda which could affect your health. Its ingredients including the flavors are generally safe and healthy to consume.
Does Condensed Milk Increase the Benefits of Thai Milk?
Condensed milk is a sweet and tasty replacement for ordinary milk. Although, it has a high content of sugar and flavor as compared to the original one but the other beneficial ingredients in Thai tea could outweigh its possible sugar-related side effects.
However, adding a lot of condensed milk might be problematic for diabetic patients due to its sugar content.
Condensed milk is a good source of calcium and can enhance the flavor of Thai tea. I also enjoy tea with condensed milk as it literally enhances the taste and makes it different and unique from regular tea.
Is Excessive Consumption of Thai Tea Dangerous?
According to studies, drinking tea helps manage body temperature and reduce inflammation. Moreover, tea is good for the heart.
Therefore, the consumption of tea, if kept in moderation would be fine. Thai tea consists of anti-inflammatory ingredients that can actually improve your digestive system.
However, keep in mind that excessive consumption of anything could be harmful; so if you consume multiple cups of Thai tea every day, that could become a bit problematic for you.
Nonetheless, having Thai tea occasionally would be fine.
Potential Health Benefits of Thai Tea
You can drink Thai tea as a folk remedy or enjoy it as part of your regular diet. Its caffeine content can give an energy boost similar to drinking a cup of coffee.
It also contains essential antioxidants which help prevent damage to your cells that can lead to serious diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and macular degeneration (impaired vision with age).
Conclusion
- Generally, Thai tea has no side effects as the ingredients are often healthy and included in an appropriate amount.
- However, if you are willingly avoiding caffeine or if its caffeine content does not suit you, Thai tea might not be for you.
- If you have no issues with caffeine or sugar, there might be no risks in drinking Thai tea.
- The spice mix of Thai tea is beneficial for the human body due to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties.