Thai Iced Tea
Why this recipe works
- Strong tea base: A short, concentrated steep gives the drink enough depth to stand up to ice and condensed milk.
- Sweetness dissolves cleanly: Stirring the sugar into hot tea helps it dissolve fully, so the finished drink tastes smooth rather than gritty.
- Cold, creamy contrast: Chilled tea, fresh ice and sweetened condensed milk create the classic balance of bold, cool and creamy.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Serve just after assembling: Add the ice and condensed milk only when ready to drink so the tea stays cold and the milk keeps its creamy finish.
- Cool before pouring over ice: Let the sweetened tea cool fully before serving; pouring hot tea over ice will dilute the flavour quickly.
Ingredient notes
- Use robust black tea: A strong black tea gives the drink its structure and prevents the condensed milk from overwhelming the brew.
- Adjust after chilling: Cold drinks taste less sweet than hot ones, so check the tea once chilled and adjust to taste before serving.
Make-ahead tips
- Make the tea in advance: The sweetened tea can be chilled ahead and kept in a sealed jug in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Keep milk and ice separate: Store the tea without ice or condensed milk, then assemble each glass just before serving.
Common mistakes
- Over-steeping the tea: Steeping for longer than needed can make the tea taste harsh rather than bold.
- Adding milk too early: Mixing in the condensed milk before chilling can make the drink feel heavy; add it over ice for the best contrast.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan, then remove from the heat. Add the black tea, cover, and steep for 5 minutes for a strong brew.
- Strain the tea into a heatproof jug. Stir in the caster sugar and vanilla extract while the tea is still hot, until fully dissolved.
- Cool the sweetened tea to room temperature, then chill until cold. If you are short on time, set the jug in a cold-water bath and stir occasionally until cool.
- Fill a tall glass with the ice cubes, then pour over the chilled tea. Top with the sweetened condensed milk and stir gently just before drinking.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For the boldest flavour, keep the steep to 5 minutes; longer can make the tea taste harsh.
- If serving to pregnant people, young children, older adults, or anyone immunocompromised, use pasteurised sweetened condensed milk and keep the drink well chilled.
Substitutions
- Replace caster sugar with light brown sugar for a deeper caramel note.
- Replace vanilla extract with 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon for a warmer, spiced finish.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Store the sweetened tea (without ice or sweetened condensed milk) in a sealed jug in the fridge for up to 2 days. Serve over fresh ice and add the sweetened condensed milk just before drinking.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 1 glasses
- Total time: 20min (10min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Thai
-
Allergens:
Milk
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerEquipment you'll need
Got ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea) with Lime
Chilled hibiscus tea drink sweetened and finished with lime
Orange Blossom Iced Tea
Chilled black tea with orange blossom water and lemon
Oksusu-cha (Korean Corn Tea)
Korean corn tea simmered from toasted sweetcorn kernels
Lemongrass Iced Tea
Iced black tea infused with lemongrass and sweetened
Oolong Tea
Fragrant oolong tea brewed in hot water, served plain or sweetened
Vietnamese Iced Tea
Strong black tea sweetened and served over ice
Vietnamese-Style Ginger Tea
Hot ginger tea sweetened with sugar and finished with lime
Green Smoothie (Spinach and Banana)
Green smoothie with spinach, banana and lemon
Classic Gin and Tonic with Lime
Gin and tonic with lime served over ice
Spiced Winter Beer (Belgian Style)
Warm spiced beer with orange, clove and cinnamon
Pomegranate Molasses Spritzer
Tangy pomegranate molasses spritzer with lime and sparkling water
Orange Date Smoothie
A creamy orange and date smoothie with cinnamon.
Classic Bubble Tea (Taiwanese Boba)
Black milk tea served over chewy tapioca pearls and ice
Hong Kong Milk Tea
Strong black tea with evaporated milk, served hot or iced
Moroccan-Style Mint Iced Tea
Mint iced tea made with black tea, sugar and fresh mint
Scottish Tablet (Crumbly Butter Sweets)
Crumbly Scottish tablet made with butter and condensed milk
Horchata (Sweet Rice Drink)
Chilled sweet rice drink with cinnamon and vanilla
Horchata Casera (Homemade Rice and Cinnamon Drink)
Chilled rice drink blended with cinnamon, vanilla and sugar
You might also like
Southwest Quinoa Bowl
Quinoa bowl with black beans, sweet potato, avocado and lime
Flan Casero (Spanish Caramel Custard)
Spanish baked caramel custard made with eggs, milk and vanilla
Choucroute Garnie Alsacienne (Sauerkraut with Meats)
Braised sauerkraut with sausages and smoked pork
Shrimp and Grits (Creamy Maize Grits with Bacon and Prawns)
Creamy grits topped with bacon sautéed prawns
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Golden air-fried chicken tenders with a seasoned breadcrumb coating.
Vegetarian German Cheese Soup (Vegetarische Käsesuppe)
German vegetarian cheese soup with leeks and potatoes
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
WMF Mini Saucepan 16 cm with Lid
- High-quality stainless steel
- Even heat distribution
- Higher price point
T-fal Specialty Nonstick Handy Pot with Glass Lid 3 Quart
- Easy food release
- Dishwasher safe
- Not induction compatible
All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan
- Excellent heat control
- Premium build quality
- Expensive
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
