Sep 05 2026
RestaurantsKing Ocean CrabThai Milk Tea Recipe

Thai Milk Tea Recipe

Inspired by King Ocean Crab
Time40m
Serves4

Make Thai Milk Tea Recipe in just 40m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Tea Base

Sweetened Condensed & Evaporated Milk Mix

Sweetener (optional)

Method

Tea Base

  1. 1

    Brew the tea

    Bring 800 ml water to a rolling boil. Add 4 tablespoons of strong black tea leaves or Thai tea mix and toasted star anise (if using). Remove from heat and cover. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes for strong flavor (7 minutes for very bold, 5 minutes for slightly lighter).

  2. 2

    Strain

    Strain the steeped tea through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a heatproof container to remove leaves and spices. Press gently on leaves to extract flavor but avoid over-extracting bitterness. Allow the strained tea to cool slightly (5–10 minutes).

Sweetened Condensed & Evaporated Milk Mix

  1. 3

    Prepare milk mixture

    In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine 100 ml sweetened condensed milk and 100 ml evaporated milk. If you want a richer/creamier drink, add 100 ml whole milk or half-and-half. Whisk until smooth and homogeneous.

  2. 4

    Sweeten to taste

    Taste a tablespoon of the warm tea. If you prefer it sweeter, dissolve up to 1 tablespoon granulated sugar into the warm tea and stir until fully dissolved. Note: sweetened condensed milk already adds substantial sweetness, so add sugar only if desired.

Combine & Chill

  1. 5

    Mix tea and milk

    Pour the hot, strained tea slowly into the milk mixture while stirring to combine. This tempers the milk and ensures even mixing. The ratio should yield a strong, sweet tea — adjust milk amount to personal preference (use less milk for stronger tea).

  2. 6

    Cool down

    Allow the combined tea to come to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold (about 20–30 minutes) if you prefer very cold iced tea. Alternatively, you can assemble directly over ice for immediate serving.

Finishing & Serving

  1. 7

    Assemble over ice

    Fill glasses with 1 to 1.5 cups of ice cubes or crushed ice. Pour the chilled Thai milk tea over the ice, leaving about 1–2 cm at the top for garnish. If desired, drizzle 1 teaspoon condensed milk on top for a marbling effect.

  2. 8

    Optional cream top

    For a layered look, gently pour an additional 1–2 tablespoons evaporated milk or cream over the back of a spoon onto the surface of the tea so it floats as a creamy top layer.

  3. 9

    Serve

    Serve immediately with a straw and stir before drinking to combine layers. Store leftover tea in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours; shake or stir before serving.

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