When you hear about Thailand, you probably think of these well-known beverage brands: Red Bull and Singha are two Thai beverages that are well-known across the world. It may be found wherever and is appreciated by all living species on the planet.
However, you will also agree that there is no drink more famous than Cha Yen (ชาเย็น) or more commonly referred to as Thai Tea.
This sweet and creamy drink is loved not only by Thais but also by many foreign tourists because of its very special and authentic taste. In fact, many say that this menu must be in every Thai restaurant around the world.
Are you a fan of sugary drinks? This is a drink you should try. Do you need a pick-me-up during the day? Thai tea is also a viable option. This creamy type is one of my favorites. So it will make me glad if you enjoy it as well. So be ready for a cup of Cha Yen to brighten your day.
Where can you buy Thai Tea in Thailand?
If you asked this question, I can briefly announce to you that it is available all around Thailand. In every corner of the city, you can find Thai Tea easily. There are lots of vendors selling Thai Tea along the streets in Thailand, especially in Bangkok. Some are selling from sturdy street kiosks, while others are selling from motorcycles or automobiles. You can even find Thai Tea in many malls in Bangkok with varying prices.
I visited five malls in Bangkok, and obviously they have a Thai Tea stand there. What amazes me is that the shop is always bustling with customers, and the lines may be long even on weekends.
If you visit Bangkok, you will get used to seeing many people, both young and old, carrying a cup of Thai Tea in their hands. I can say, Thai Tea is a drink that is highly coveted by Thai people.
Well, after I had explored the city of Bangkok. I've come to the conclusion that the majority of Thai Tea merchants in Bangkok use the same brand, Cha Dra Mue. Even yet, some of them continue to utilize other brands. The cover of this brand is red and white, with the clear words 'Please Drink Thai Tea Mix Number One Thailand'.
How does Thai Tea taste?
If you're truly interested. I'll be delighted to tell you about this amazing creamy flavor. Thai tea has a powerful aroma as well as a robust tea flavor. When you sip it, the sweetness and tea merge perfectly. The sweetness comes from a combination of sugar and sweetened condensed milk (nom khon wan นมข้นหวาน), as well as a creamy flavour from evaporated milk (nom kreme tiam นมครีมเทียม). Perfect.
Both components are from the same brand, carnation, which is also Thailand's most popular. However, I'm not sure if using a different brand will affect the taste.
If it's tea, why is it so orange?
Have you ever wondered why the color of Thai Tea is extremely and overly orange?
So, did l. However, I did not ask the vendors about it.
To answer this question, I read the ingredients listed on the tea packet. Then, surprisingly I found the answer there. I discovered that it includes some C Yellow Number 6 (which is apparently the same food dye that was in Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, before it got outlawed).
Yeah, that is the secret behind the orange color of Thai Tea. However, in my opinion you can still make Thai Tea with normal black tea and I think the taste will be the same.
Red Lemon Thai