Thai Iced Tea
ชาเย็น (Cha Yen)
Strong black tea sweetened with condensed milk, poured over ice and topped with a cloud of evaporated milk.
Cha yen is Thai iced tea: a very strong black tea blend, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk, poured over a full glass of ice and finished with evaporated milk. Its orange color usually comes from the tea mix. Brewed for five minutes.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 65 mg in one serving (16 oz (473 ml) over ice), a concentration of 13.7 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
Related reading
| Brewing method | Strong Brew, Sweeten, Pour over Ice |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 5 g of mix to 160 g of water, then milk and ice |
| Base & finished drink | 5g → 430g |
| Grind size | Fine broken leaf (Thai tea mix) |
| Water temperature | 212°F / 100°C |
| Target brew time | 4:00-5:00 |
| Serving | 16 oz (473 ml) over ice |
What you need
- 5 g Thai tea mix
- 160 g boiling water
- 12 g sugar
- 40 g sweetened condensed milk
- 30 g evaporated milk, for the top
- Ice, to fill a 16 oz glass
Required gear
- Small saucepan or heatproof jug
- Fine strainer
- Tall 16 oz glass
- Scale accurate to 0.1 g
- Timer
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Pour 160 g of boiling water over 5 g of Thai tea mix in the pan. Cover, or keep it at a gentle simmer, and start the timer.
- 5:00Strain the tea into a jug. While it is hot, stir in 12 g of sugar and 40 g of sweetened condensed milk until they dissolve.
- 5:30Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the sweetened tea over it.
- 6:00Pour 30 g of evaporated milk slowly over the top so that it swirls down through the tea. Stir before drinking.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
A number worth knowing
We list about 65 mg for the 16 oz (473 ml) glass, made with about 5 g of tea mix. A typical 8 oz cup of black tea has about 47 mg, and the figure moves with how much tea you use and how long it steeps.
Strong on purpose
Brew it stronger than you would drink it hot. The ice will dilute it, and the sugar and milk need a strong tea to stand against.
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.
- Thai iced tea is sweet and made with dairy. Ask for less sugar, or order it without milk as cha dam yen.
Cha yen is Thai iced tea: a very strong black tea blend, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk, poured over a full glass of ice and finished with evaporated milk. Its orange color usually comes from the tea mix. Brewed for five minutes.
Origin & Story
It arrives as two colors: a bright, almost glowing orange below and a ribbon of white above, slowly folding into itself as the ice shifts. Thai iced tea, cha yen, is sold from street carts in tall plastic cups and in restaurants everywhere, and the orange is half the appeal.
Most of that color is not the tea. Thai tea mixes, usually built on Ceylon or Assam black tea, commonly contain yellow and red food coloring, which turns the brew orange once milk goes in. Plain black tea gives a plain brown cup. The mixes vary in other ways too. Some carry a little star anise or tamarind seed, others are nothing but tea, and one reference notes that tea in Thailand is not typically brewed with spices at all, which is why Western recipes that add star anise and cardamom taste different.
The tea is brewed far stronger than you would drink it hot. A common ratio is about three tablespoons of mix to two cups of boiling water, steeped or simmered for five minutes. Sugar goes in while it is hot, then sweetened condensed milk, and the glass is filled with ice. A pour of evaporated milk finishes it, and the cloudy layer that swirls through the orange is the sign it is done.
Variants run from cha dam yen, the same tea with sugar but no milk, to cha manao with lime and a little mint, to hot cha ron, often eaten with fried dough.
Brew 5 g of Thai tea mix in 160 ml of boiling water for five minutes, stir in 12 g of sugar and about 40 g of sweetened condensed milk while it is hot, pour over ice, and float 30 ml of evaporated milk on top.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 90/100 |
| Acidity | 30/100 |
| Bitterness | 38/100 |
| Body | 80/100 |
| Aroma | 72/100 |
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 Thai Iced Tea?
One serving, 16 oz (473 ml) over ice, contains approximately 65 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Thai Iced Tea?
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 Thai Iced Tea be extracted?
Timing: 4:00-5:00. Method: Strong Brew, Sweeten, Pour over Ice. Ratio: 30g Thai tea mix per Liter of water, brewed strong for ice. Grind or leaf format: Fine broken leaf (Thai tea mix).
Why does my Thai Iced Tea 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.
Why is Thai iced tea orange?
Mostly food coloring. Commercial Thai tea mixes commonly include yellow and red dye, which turns the brew orange when the milk goes in. Plain black tea gives a brown cup.
What is the difference between cha yen and cha dam yen?
Cha yen is Thai iced tea with milk. Cha dam yen is the same strong tea sweetened with sugar only and served over ice with no milk. Cha manao adds lime.
Can I make Thai iced tea with regular black tea?
Yes. A strong Ceylon or Assam brewed at about 30 g per liter works, but the cup will be browner and plainer than one made with a Thai tea mix, which usually carries its own color and sometimes spices.
Who should avoid Thai Iced Tea?
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. Thai iced tea is sweet and made with dairy. Ask for less sugar, or order it without milk as cha dam yen. 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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