Of course, its taste and then the presentation. In the beverage, every little detail is important as you are consuming it. You should know what is special about a specific drink that you drink.
I prefer a healthy lifestyle and in order to do that, it is important for me to watch out for the healthy beverages option every time. As I am a health-conscious person, I never choose any random beverage for me, rather, I weigh its merit and demerits.
Thai tea contains ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to guard your immune system. Additionally, it has a rich and sweet taste.
If you are a person who checks all the ingredients in a beverage, then Thai tea could be the one for you. It has the specialties that a health-conscious individual wants.
Rather than consuming regular tea, this Thai tea could be your partner at almost any time. In summer and even in winter, it could be the best option you can have to get energy, and its calming effects surely make you feel fresh all day long.
Let’s get into the details!
What Are The Special Ingredients In Thai Tea?
Thai tea is a complete package of all the special ingredients that make this tea better than any other regular tea.
Ingredients of Thai tea include:
- Star anise
- Cloves
- Cardamom
- Turmeric
- Tamarind
Let’s get to know the reasons that make these ingredients special.
| Star Anise | This ingredient is like a flower and actually works like a floral fragrance to the tea. It makes the flavor of the tea to the next level. Moreover, it has an anti-inflammatory quality which is ultimately best for health. |
| Cloves | The cloves are best for soothing and calming effects and even in iced tea, they can help get rid of multiple diseases. In that case, even iced tea would not be beneficial to health as it has such ingredients. |
| Cardamom | This ingredient might be bitter when you consume it but when it is added to the tea, it makes the tea flavorful. Moreover, it has an anti-inflammatory quality which is beneficial for your heart. |
| Turmeric | Turmeric is the reason why Thai tea has its orange color but besides the color, it also has anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric heals external injuries and is obviously good for the heart and stomach. |
| Tamarind | The crushed tamarinds in a small amount change the test of the original tea and that’s what makes it different from regular tea. To cut the sweetness and other organic herb flavors, tamarind could be a good option and its sweet sour taste in Thai tea makes it a distinct ingredient. |
What Makes Thai Tea Special?
Thai tea has special ingredients, so it is quite difficult to determine which single ingredient specifically makes Thai tea special. However, there are a few facts and ingredients that actually make Thai tea special for you.
Thai tea is basically iced tea, as Thailand has mostly moist and hot temperatures throughout the year. Even the winters are not that cold.
Usually, in the afternoon, the temperature rises and increases the requirement for cold beverages. Regular tea is hot so in hotter regions like Thailand it would be not appropriate to consume more than one cup of such beverage.
Thai tea can soothe and calm the body and its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties work efficiently to make it beneficial for your health.
For me, ice is the first thing that makes it the first choice to be consumed to cater to the hot weather of Thailand.
The Joy of Different Flavors
Regular tea does not offer many flavors. Coffee does offer a variety of blends, but they depend on different amounts of coffee beans and their way of brewing.
However, Thai tea is special for its multiple flavors. Whether you want your tea in cocoa, vanilla, or any other fruit flavor, Thai tea might never disappoint you.
Although the original Thai tea is orange in color with the flavor of all the ingredients and herbs in it, these additional flavors would be best for youngsters who often look for variety in their drinks.
Condensed Milk in Thai tea
Yes, you heard it right! Thai tea is made by using condensed milk, which most other teas do not have. You might be thinking that condensed milk is sweet enough and it might make the texture of the beverage thick.
Since tea is initially brewed in water and condensed milk is added in small amounts, both textures complement each other well and make a perfect beverage.
Condensed milk has a sweet and thick texture, which is different from ordinary milk. It is best for desserts, so Thai tea makers have added it to the recipe to make it more special. As Thai tea is iced, adding condensed milk does not make it thicker.
The makers of Thai tea also suggest adding condensed milk with water to decrease its sweetness while attaining a creamy texture.
In my opinion, the taste of condensed milk is the best part that makes Thai tea special.
Ordinary vs. Brown Sugar
Ordinary sugar is a bit sweet as compared to brown sugar. Thai tea allows both sugars, as sweetness does not matter much in Thai tea. The thing that matters in Thai tea is the other herbs and flavors.
Sugar makes it a bit sweet and it depends on your taste whether you like it or not. Adding less sugar will still taste good in Thai tea, but when it comes to regular tea if you don’t add sugar it will taste bitter and might affect your mood.
Obviously, you need an appropriate amount of sugar to maintain your blood sugar level as well. Therefore, I suggest adding sugar according to your requirements and preferences.
If you are looking for a healthy alternative, then brown sugar will surely be your first choice over synthetic white sugar. You can also take natural sweeteners like stevia, the healthiest sugar alternative among them.
Conclusion
- Thai tea is a special beverage and every ingredient makes it more special as compared to regular tea.
- Spices in Thai tea have their own flavors and benefits.
- In hot or humid weather, iced Thai tea is a good choice of beverage.
- The intensity of spices can be lessened by the addition of condensed milk.