How to Make Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen) at Home: Recipe and Story

Creamy, sweet, ice-cold and strong enough to stand up to Bangkok heat: Thai iced tea, or cha yen, is one of the most recognizable drinks in Southeast Asia. Learning how to make Thai iced tea at home is easy once you know the formula: brew black tea much stronger than usual, sweeten it while hot with sugar and sweetened condensed milk, pour it over crushed ice, and float a splash of evaporated milk on top.

Below you will find a tested home recipe with US and metric measures, the story of the Bangkok tea shop that helped make the drink famous worldwide, and the classic variations you will see at Thai stalls.

What is Thai iced tea?

In Thai, cha thai means Thai tea in general, and cha yen means “cold tea,” the iced milky version most people know. It is made from strongly brewed black tea, traditionally Ceylon tea or a local Thai landrace of Assam tea, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk. Evaporated or whole milk is then poured over the tea and ice, giving it its creamy look.

Interestingly, Thai-style tea is typically not spiced. Many English-language recipes add star anise or cardamom, but in Thailand the flavor usually comes from the tea itself plus milk and sugar.

Why is it orange?

The vivid orange color seen in many restaurants comes from commercial Thai tea mixes, and some mixes include added coloring, so check the label if that matters to you. Tea you brew yourself from plain black tea gives a natural amber color that turns a soft caramel-tan once the milk goes in. The taste is just as good.

The story behind cha yen

One family business plays a starring role in Thai tea’s fame. In 1920, eight Teochew siblings emigrated from Chaozhou, China, to Thailand. In 1925, one of them, Sa Pae, opened a tea shop called Lim Meng Kee in Bangkok’s Chinatown, selling imported Chinese teas such as oolong and green tea.

During World War II, a bombing destroyed the shop, and the business moved to Yaowarat Road. There it began importing Chinese black tea and shifted toward iced black tea and iced milk tea, because hot tea was less popular in Bangkok’s tropical climate. In 1945 the ChaTraMue brand was born, usually translated as “Hand Brand Tea” or “Number One Brand Tea.”

Its sweetened orange milk tea went on to help popularize Thai tea internationally. Today the brand operates hundreds of shops in Thailand and more than a hundred franchise locations abroad. If you like the Thai approach to cold drinks, our article on Thai iced coffee covers its coffee cousin.

How to make Thai iced tea at home

Makes 2 large glasses.

1. Brew strong. Pour the boiling water over the tea (and star anise, if using). Steep 5 minutes. You are using about three times more tea than for a normal cup, so the brew will be dark and bold.
2. Strain. Strain through a fine sieve or a cloth tea sock, pressing gently on the leaves.
3. Sweeten while hot. Stir in the sugar and the condensed milk until fully dissolved. Taste: it should be sweeter than you think, because the ice will dilute it.
4. Cool. Let it cool to room temperature, or chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Pouring hot tea on ice melts it too fast and waters the drink down.
5. Pour. Fill two tall glasses with crushed ice and pour in the tea, leaving about an inch (2.5 cm) at the top.
6. Float the milk. Slowly pour 2 tbsp evaporated milk over each glass and watch it swirl down. Stir before drinking.

Tips for café-style results

• Stronger, not longer: more leaf, not a longer steep, keeps bitterness in check.
• Crushed ice chills faster and gives the classic street-stall texture.
• Make a batch: the sweetened tea keeps in the fridge for about two days. Add ice and milk to order.
• Want it less sweet? Cut the sugar first and keep the condensed milk, which carries the signature creamy flavor.

Dairy-free Thai iced tea

Swap the condensed milk for sweetened condensed coconut milk and the evaporated milk for full-fat coconut milk or a creamy oat milk. Coconut suits the drink especially well.

Classic variations

In Thailand, street and market vendors often pour cha yen over crushed ice in a plastic bag or tall plastic cup, while restaurants usually serve it in a tall glass. Some vendors also blend it into a frappé. Hot Thai tea is a common morning drink, often paired with pathongko, a fried dough snack.

Cha manao at home

Brew the tea exactly as above but skip the milks. Sweeten with 3 tbsp sugar, cool, then stir in the juice of 1 lime (about 2 tbsp / 30 ml). Pour over ice and add a mint sprig. It is bright, tart and very refreshing.

Which tea to use

We do not sell a Thai tea mix, but you do not need one. A strong black tea that loves milk and sugar is the key. Our English Breakfast is a malty, robust blend of African and Indian black teas, strong enough to stand up to milk and sugar, which makes it an excellent base for cha yen. If you enjoy the spiced versions found in many Western recipes, our Masala Chai brings bold black tea and warm spices for an iced chai-style twist. Find both in our tea collection, and for another sweet, creamy iced drink, see our Vietnamese iced coffee guide.

Thai iced tea FAQ

Does Thai iced tea have caffeine?

Yes. It is made from black tea. For reference, the FDA lists about 71 mg of caffeine in 12 oz of brewed black tea; Thai iced tea is brewed stronger, so a glass may contain more.

What does Thai iced tea taste like?

Sweet, creamy and bold, with a strong black tea backbone and a rich, almost caramel-like finish from the condensed milk.

Is Thai tea the same as chai?

No. Indian masala chai is spiced and simmered with milk. Thai tea is typically unspiced and is sweetened with condensed milk and poured over ice.

Can I use tea bags?

Yes. Use about 6 strong black tea bags for 2 cups of water and steep 5 minutes.

Sources

1. Thai tea. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
2. ChaTraMue. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
3. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? U.S. Food and Drug Administration. fda.gov

Facts checked in October 2026.

Keep reading: Thai Iced Coffee · Vietnamese Iced Coffee · Tea