Boba are tiny tapioca pearls with various flavours to give texture to the drink


Thai tea has become very popular in the United States as people find pleasure sipping this delicious, unique tea. Tasting it in hot summer months, sitting around a swimming pool or on the beach, is like a dream.

About Thai Tea:

Thai tea (also known as Thai iced tea) or "cha-yen" (Thai: ชาเย็น, lit. "cold tea") in Thailand, is a drink made from strongly brewedCeylon tea. However, due to Ceylon tea's high price, plain black tea with added food coloring is commonly used. Other ingredients may include added orange blossom water, star anise, crushed tamarind seed or red and yellow food coloring, and sometimes other spices as well. This tea is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served chilled. Evaporated milk, coconut milk or whole milk is generally poured over the tea and ice before serving to add taste and creamy appearance. However, in Thailand, condensed milk and sugar are mixed with the tea before it is poured over ice and then topped with evaporated milk. In Thai restaurants worldwide, it is served in a tall glass, though when sold from street and market stalls in Thailand it is more typically poured over the crushed ice in a clear (or translucent) plastic bag or tall plastic cups. At markets, it can be seen to be mixed through pouring the tea at heights of about 4 feet back and forth. It can also be made into a frappé at more Westernised vendors.
It is popular in Southeast Asia and in many American restaurants that serve Thai food. Although Thai tea is not the same as bubble tea, a Southeast and East Asian beverage that contains large tapioca pearls, Thai tea with tapioca pearls is a popular flavor of bubble tea.
Cold
  • Dark Thai iced tea (Thai: ชาดำเย็น, cha-dam-yen) Thai tea served chilled with no milk content, sweetened with sugar only. The concept is based on traditional Indian tea which is used as main ingredient.
  • Lime Thai tea (Thai: ชามะนาว, cha-ma-now) Similar to Dark Thai iced tea, but flavored with lime as well as sweetened with sugar. Mint may also be added.
Hot
Usually, Thai people drink Thai hot tea in the morning, frequently with Yiu Ja Guoy (Chinese:油炸粿) or Pa-tong-ko (Thai: ปาท่องโก๋) as it is called by most Thais.
  • Thai hot tea (Thai: ชาร้อน, cha-ron) Thai tea served hot.
  • Dark Thai hot tea (Thai: ชาดำร้อน, cha-dam-ron) Thai tea served hot with no milk content, sweetened with sugar only.



Ingredients:


Water - 4 cups
Thai Tea Mix - 4 to 5 heaping tbsp
Sugar - 1/2 cup,Thai ice tea should be very sweet
Evaporated Milk
Boba ( Tapioca Pearls)

Method:

 Boil water. Place  tea mix in a large pitcher or pot. Pour boiling water over the tea and let steep for 5 minutes. Use a strainer to strain the tea into a second pitcher (this removes most of the loose tea), then use a coffee filter or the stainless/muslin filter  to filter it back into the (rinsed) first pitcher. Add sugar to taste , stir and let cool then put in the fridge. Pour chilled tea over ice (prefer crushed ice) and boba and top with evaporated milk. Let the milk float on the ice and slowly sink into the tea.


Boiling Method:

In medium pot boil water and add Thai tea mix  Reduce heat and let simmer uncovered for 1 hour. Add water to re-fill pot to original level, and let simmer for additional 1 hour. Add water once again and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Strain, cool and serve as per above method. This method yields a stronger tea and is the more common way of preparation in Thailand.