Thai Iced Tea Or Coffee Recipe

Brew the tea

Place 8 tablespoons Thai tea mix and the optional whole spices (2 star anise and 2 lightly crushed cardamom pods) into a heatproof pitcher or heatproof bowl.

Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Pour the boiling water directly over the tea mix and spices, stir once to combine, then cover and steep for 5–7 minutes for a strong concentrate (steep up to 10 minutes if you want very intense flavor).

After steeping, strain the tea concentrate through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container to remove tea leaves and spices. Press lightly on solids to extract flavor, then discard solids.

While the tea is still hot, stir in 1 cup granulated sugar until fully dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness; for an authentically sweet Thai tea, it should be notably sweet. Let the sweetened tea come to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator until cold (about 30–45 minutes) or over ice to speed cooling.

If making Thai-style iced coffee instead of tea, prepare 4 cups very strong brewed coffee (use double the grounds you normally would). Optionally stir in 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk while the coffee is hot to dissolve and sweeten — this produces a richer, creamier base similar to traditional condensed-milk coffee.

Chill the coffee concentrate to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold.

Decide whether you will finish drinks with cream (half-and-half/heavy/evaporated milk) or coconut milk. If using sweetened condensed milk for extra sweetness, have it ready.

To assemble one serving: Fill a tall glass about two-thirds full with ice (about 1 cup ice). Pour 1 cup of the chilled Thai tea concentrate (or chilled concentrated coffee) over the ice.

Top slowly with 1/4 cup cream or 1/4 cup coconut milk (for a creamier or dairy-free option). If you prefer a sweeter, richer drink, add 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk into the glass before or after pouring cream and stir gently to combine. Adjust the amount to taste.

For an attractive layered look, pour cream or coconut milk over the back of a spoon so it floats briefly before mixing. Garnish with a light dusting of ground cinnamon if desired.

Stir before drinking, or serve with a straw so the drinker can mix. Offer one free refill; for refills, pour additional chilled tea/coffee concentrate over fresh ice and top with more cream or coconut milk as requested.

Store any leftover sweetened tea or coffee concentrate refrigerated for up to 4–5 days. Shake or stir before using, as natural separation may occur.