Teh Tarik
Teh tarik
Strong black tea and condensed milk, poured between two mugs until it froths: Malaysia's pulled tea.
Teh tarik means pulled tea. Strong black tea is mixed with sweetened condensed milk, then poured back and forth between two vessels until it turns frothy and cools to a drinkable heat. It is a staple of Malaysian mamak stalls.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 50 mg in one serving (8 oz (240 ml)), a concentration of 20.8 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Steep, Strain and Pull |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 3 parts tea to 1 part condensed milk |
| Base & finished drink | 4g → 190g |
| Grind size | Broken Leaf or tea dust |
| Water temperature | 212°F / 100°C |
| Target brew time | 5:00, then pulled |
| Serving | 8 oz (240 ml) |
What you need
- 4 g black tea, broken leaf or tea dust, or 2 tea bags
- 150 g boiling water
- 50 g sweetened condensed milk
- A splash of evaporated milk, optional
Required gear
- Two sturdy heatproof mugs or steel jugs
- Fine strainer
- Cup
- Scale accurate to 0.1 g
- Timer
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Pour 150 g of boiling water over 4 g of tea, cover and start the timer.
- 5:00Strain the tea into one mug that already holds 50 g of sweetened condensed milk, and stir until the milk dissolves. Add a splash of evaporated milk if you like.
- 5:30Pour the tea into the second mug in a steady stream, lifting the mugs further apart with each pass, then pour it back. Repeat about ten times, until a thick foam forms and the tea feels warm rather than hot.
- 6:30Pour into a cup and serve at once.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
A number worth knowing
We list about 50 mg for an 8 oz cup.
Pour high, pour steady
Start with the mugs close together and lift them further apart with each pass, keeping the stream unbroken. The higher the stream, the thicker the foam, and about ten passes is typical.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
- Teh tarik is made with sweetened condensed milk, so it is sweet and contains dairy.
Teh tarik means pulled tea. Strong black tea is mixed with sweetened condensed milk, then poured back and forth between two vessels until it turns frothy and cools to a drinkable heat. It is a staple of Malaysian mamak stalls.
Origin & Story
Watch a tea-puller at work and the drink turns into theater: a long arc of tea leaves one steel mug, crosses a gap that looks far too wide, and lands in the other without losing a drop. Do it again and again and a thick, pale foam builds on top. Teh tarik is Malaysia's pulled tea, and it is as much performance as drink.
It is usually traced to Indian Muslim tea sellers in Malaya, known as mamak, who brought South Indian habits of strong, milky, sweet tea. When and where it first appeared is not well documented. Accounts point to plantations and roadside stalls, with the condensed-milk version taking over after the Second World War, when tea dust was cheap and condensed milk covered its bitterness.
It is now a national drink in all but name, served at mamak stalls at most hours, and in 2009 Malaysia listed it in its National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The making is simple and the pulling is the skill. A very strong brew of black tea, often a cheaper broken grade, is poured onto sweetened condensed milk, sometimes with evaporated milk too, and then pulled in a long stream from one vessel to the other and back. The pull does three jobs. It mixes the milk through, cools the tea to drinking heat, and whips in air to build the foam.
Ask for teh-O and you get black tea with no milk. Teh-C uses evaporated milk, teh halia adds ginger, and teh ais is iced.
Brew 4 g of black tea in 150 ml of water at 100°C for five minutes, strain it onto 50 g of sweetened condensed milk, and pull it back and forth between two mugs about ten times.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 88/100 |
| Acidity | 26/100 |
| Bitterness | 44/100 |
| Body | 82/100 |
| Aroma | 66/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Teh Tarik?
One serving, 8 oz (240 ml), contains approximately 50 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Teh Tarik?
Brew the base at 100°C (212°F). Where the milk is heated, 60–65°C is the target; past about 70°C it tastes scalded and loses its sweetness.
How long should Teh Tarik be extracted?
Timing: 5:00, then pulled. Method: Steep, Strain and Pull. Ratio: 27g leaf per Liter of water (4 g in 150 ml), then condensed milk to taste. Grind or leaf format: Broken Leaf or tea dust.
Why does my Teh Tarik taste bitter?
In a milk drink, bitterness comes from the base (espresso pulled too long or tea steeped too long) or from scorched milk. Brew the base to the stated proportion, and if the milk is heated, stop at 60–65°C.
What does teh tarik mean?
Teh is the Malay word for tea and tarik means pull, so teh tarik is pulled tea. The name comes from pouring the tea back and forth between two vessels.
Why is teh tarik pulled?
Pouring the tea from a height mixes the milk in, lets it cool to a drinkable temperature and builds a foamy head. It is also part of the show, which is why it is done in view of the customer.
What is the difference between teh tarik, teh-C and teh-O?
Teh tarik is made with condensed milk and pulled. Teh-C uses evaporated milk, and teh-O is black tea with no milk. Teh halia adds ginger and teh ais is served iced.
Who should avoid Teh Tarik?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. Teh tarik is made with sweetened condensed milk, so it is sweet and contains dairy. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
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