Why is Thai iced tea orange?

Thai tea mixes include food colouring alongside black tea and spices such as star anise, which gives the brewed tea its signature orange colour. Plain black tea makes a similar-tasting drink without the colour.

Can Thai iced tea be made less sweet?

Yes. Reduce the condensed milk or sugar a little at a time and taste as you go. The tea is brewed strong and sweet to stand up to the ice and milk, so small reductions work better than large ones.

Can I make Thai iced tea without condensed milk?

You can use evaporated milk plus sugar, or a sweetened plant-based milk, though the flavour and richness will differ slightly from the classic version.

FOOD RECIPES

Beverages

Beverage recipes give you cafe-style drinks at home with exact ratios. This collection starts with Thai iced tea, spiced black tea sweetened and poured over ice, with servings and total time on the card.

Beverages

THAI ICED TEA RECIPE

Thai iced tea is strongly brewed spiced black tea sweetened with sugar, poured over ice, and fi...

45 mins 2 servings Easy

About Beverages Recipes

Beverages collects the drinks worth making at home: teas, coolers and cafe-style favourites with exact ratios, so they taste the same every time you make them. The collection starts with Thai iced tea, the vivid orange, spiced black tea sweetened with condensed milk and poured over ice.

Each recipe states servings and total time on the card, and the methods cover brewing strength and sweetness so you can adjust the drink to your own taste.

Curated By

Editorial Team

Thai tea mixes include food colouring alongside black tea and spices such as star anise, which gives the brewed tea its signature orange colour. Plain black tea makes a similar-tasting drink without the colour.
Yes. Reduce the condensed milk or sugar a little at a time and taste as you go. The tea is brewed strong and sweet to stand up to the ice and milk, so small reductions work better than large ones.
You can use evaporated milk plus sugar, or a sweetened plant-based milk, though the flavour and richness will differ slightly from the classic version.

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