Thai milk tea can be seen in any major night market and Milk Tea beverage shop. The popular sweet taste and unique milk tea flavour are completely different from Taiwanese milk tea, allowing it to have its own fanbase in Taiwan, which is called the kingdom of milk kings. However, how is Thai milk tea made? Why is the taste of Thai milk tea different from fresh milk tea? And what about its own unique orange logo? Let’s discover the secret behind Thai milk tea!

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Do you know Thai milk tea?

Best Thai Milk Tea Recipe – How is Thai milk tea made?

When the epidemic is spreading, many people want to go to Thailand to have a cup of authentic Thai milk tea, but they are unable to make the trip due to the epidemic and flight problems. What if they can’t find authentic Thai milk tea when they go to night markets or other shops? Have you thought about making your own Thai milk tea? Today, I will take you to make a cup of super pure Thai milk tea, and explain the reasoning behind the iconic orange colour of Thai milk tea.

The golden ratio of Thai milk tea recipe

There are two ways to make Thai milk tea, one is to brew it directly, and the other is to boil it. The taste of the boiled tea will be stronger than that of the brewed tea. Although the taste of the brewed tea is lighter, it will not be boring. Choose the one that suits your taste.

To make a cup of Thai fresh milk tea, you need to prepare the following items:

measuring cup
glass
spoon
stainless steel pot
filter tea bag
tea
evaporated milk
condensed milk
granulated sugar
water
ice cubes

The method of making Thai milk tea

Brew the tea first, in a ratio of one cup of tea to four cups of water.
In the way of changing cups of filtered tea. The tea is repeatedly returned to two different cups like pulling tea, and then filter tea leaves out. If you want to make a stronger taste, you can soak for an additional 5 minutes, but be careful not to exceed 5 minutes as the bitterness in the tea will be too strong.
Add condensed milk, sugar and evaporated milk, and stir well until liquefied.

The way of boiling Thai milk tea

Pack the crushed tea leaves into a tea filter bag. If you do not have a tea filter bag, you can also use a tea filter to remove it.
Bring 500ml of water to a boil in a steel pot over low heat, pour in the tea leaves, cover and simmer for five minutes. If you feel that the taste is too mild, you can simmer for an extended period of time, but be careful not to simmer for too long, otherwise it will become distastefully bitter.
After 5 minutes, you can add sugar, evaporated milk and condensed milk respectively, and then stir well with a spoon.
Pour it back and forth 6 times with the method of changing cups and straining tea. After the aroma of the tea is brought out, you can add ice according to your preference.

“While there is tea, there is hope.” – Arthur Wing Pinero, Sweet Lavender – A Comedy in Three Acts.

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What is Thai milk tea?

The introduction of Thai milk tea

Thai milk tea and Taiwanese milk tea not only have significant differences in taste, but also have different production methods. Taiwanese milk tea such as fresh milk and pearl milk tea is a combination of black tea and fresh milk. The taste is relatively light, clean and simple; whereas, Thai-style milk tea is a combination of tea, condensed milk, milk and sugar.

The fragrant taste is a combination of bitter and sweet, which is very multi-layered and quite strong. In summer, a cup of Thai milk tea can relieve the heat which is a great enjoyment in life!

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“There’s something hypnotic about the word tea.” – Dorothy L. Sayers, Gaudy Night

Tea Classroom – Thai Milk Tea

The origin of Thai milk tea

The history of Thai milk tea can be traced back to the conflict between the Communist Party and the Kuomintang. After the Kuomintang lost to the Communist Party, most of the soldiers and their families migrated to neighboring Taiwan and Thailand as they could no longer stay in China.

However, those who went to Thailand also passed on China’s habit of drinking tea to Thailand. After the political reform in Thailand, tea was also selected as one of the key projects after the planting of high economic value crops. Since then, Thai milk tea has become popular in Thailand.

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Is Thai milk tea high in caffeine?

If you would like to make a delicious Thai milk tea, you can discover that the amount of tea leaves is particularly heavy, which is brewed with the concentration of tea : water, 1:4. The main source of caffeine in these milk teas is tea leaves, thus its caffeine content is definitely more than other ordinary tea drinks. Although there is some milk and condensed milk added, that will not dilute the caffeine content.

Furthermore, it may be easy for us to ignore the negative effects of Thai milk tea, but it is important for particularly pregnant women, young children, and those who have difficulty sleeping to limit or avoid this beverage. Children may struggle to put it down because of the sweetness, however, they should be properly restrained to avoid overconsumption.

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Why is Thai milk tea orange?

A number of people are curious as to why Thai milk tea is orange. The colour is even deeper than Taiwanese milk tea. I have heard some industry operators claim that it is because of the rainy climate in Thailand, and as the soil is red and contains iron oxide, the tea leaves planted are orange in colour once brewed, however, it is misinformation. It has been confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration that the orange colour in Thai milk is actually due to the edible yellow No. 5 pigment, which is a legal additive. Thus, it can pass the customs inspection smoothly, and you don’t have to worry.

Is Thai milk tea high in calories?

As mentioned above, you can see that there is high sugar content in Thai milk tea, including condensed milk and granulated sugar. Therefore, in order to appeal to consumers like the Thai milk tea on the market, sugar will be added more. Usually, a 700ml Thai milk tea has 328 calories.

If you like to drink Thai milk tea but don’t want to take in too many calories, it is recommended to make your own by following the steps mentioned above, with a specific mention of reducing the ratio of condensed milk and sugar.

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Explore Taiwan’s Authentic and Famous Thai Milk Tea Shops

Craving authentic Thai milk tea in Taiwan? Discover selected Thai milk tea shops in the northern, central, and southern regions, allowing you to enjoy delicious Thai milk tea without leaving the country! The vibrant orange color and generous ice cubes make Thai milk tea a summer favorite. Check out these Thai milk tea shops in Taiwan to quench your thirst in the scorching heat:

1. Wutonghao – Thai Milk Tea Shop

Wutonghao specializes in Taiwanese soybean rice milk and green tea frozen drinks. Their Thai milk tea, recognized as one of the best handcrafted Thai milk teas in Taiwan, has gained popularity with over ten thousand cups sold. Wutonghao is also a well-known chain with celebrity endorsements from Jibbs, Jun Jun, and Kusko. Read More: Top 10 Tea Shops Surprisingly Owned by Celebrities.

2. Elephant Thai Handmade Thai Milk Tea Shop – Thai Milk Tea Shop

With two branches in Taipei’s Ximending and Xinzhuang, Elephant Thai Handmade Thai Milk Tea Shop boasts a Thai-inspired decor filled with elements like bamboo, elephants, and vibrant colors. Their gradient Thai milk tea, made with tea leaves imported from Thailand, offers various flavors, including a highly recommended rose-flavored Thai milk tea.

3. Hanuman Thai Tea – Thai Milk Tea Shop

Hanuman Thai Tea, located in Tainan, is run by authentic Thai owners. This hidden gem in Tainan’s East District is praised for its “Hanuman Golden Ratio Sweetness” and is a perfect place to enjoy Thai milk tea with Taiwan’s pride—pearls.

4. Thai Like Tea – Thai Milk Tea Shop

Introducing the Thai Like Tea chain, focusing on Thai beverages. They use Thai branded red tea, Mali condensed milk, and milk to make Thai milk tea. Apart from regular Thai milk tea, Thai Like Tea offers coconut milk-infused Thai milk tea, providing an authentic taste of Thailand.

5. Ah Rui Tea Thai – Thai Milk Tea Shop

Located in Taipei’s Shilin District, Ah Rui Tea Thai not only sells authentic Thai milk tea but also offers authentic Thai afternoon tea. Customize your drink by choosing between a stronger milk or tea flavor, and enjoy the Thai milk tea with small crushed ice, a staple in Thai milk tea, and pair it with Thailand’s popular Pandan Sweet Cake for an exquisite experience!

More Tea Shops in Taiwan:

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ABoxTik, take you to understand the secrets of Thai milk tea.

Do you also like Thai milk tea? Do the calories in Thai milk tea scare you too? Thai milk tea is generally known for its sweet and fragrant taste as the hot climate in Thailand also makes locals prefer to have the food with a strong taste. If you also fancy the tea fragrance and flavour of Thai milk tea but are afraid of adding too much sugar and calories, you can DIY your own Thai milk tea and adjust responsibly.

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