Few drinks are as iconic and refreshing as Thai Iced Tea—a sweet, creamy, and slightly spiced beverage that’s beloved in Thai cuisine. Making it at home is easier than you think! Create a traditional Thai Iced Tea recipe and add a delicious chewy and bouncy boba twist! Perfect for those who love both Thai iced tea with boba!
Table of contents
What is Thai Iced Tea?
Thai Iced Tea (known as Cha Yen in Thailand) is a popular street drink made with strong black tea, spices, sugar, and creamy milk. It’s known for its rich orange hue and slightly floral, spiced flavor, often served over ice to beat the tropical heat.
Adding boba is fun! It adds an extra layer of texture…so exciting for bubble tea lovers! You can use premade or homemade boba!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Authentic Thai flavors – Made with traditional Thai tea leaves and spices
✅ Perfectly creamy & sweet – Just the right balance of sugar and milk
Refreshing & cooling – A delicious way to cool off on a warm day
✅ Fun bubble tea twist – Tapioca pearls add a chewy, delightful texture
Ingredients
- 3 bags Thai Tea Mix or Assam black tea
- ½ teaspoon crushed star anise
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup ice cubes
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- ½ cup half-and-half
For the Boba (Tapioca Pearls) Version:
- homemade boba balls or use tapioca pearls – follow package instructions
- For a light version, try jasmine tea jelly
Equipment
To make Thai Iced Tea with Boba, you will need the following equipment:
- Saucepan – For boiling water and brewing tea.
- Strainer or tea infuser – To strain the tea leaves and spices after steeping.
- Measuring cups and spoons – Ensure accurate measurements for the ingredients.
- Tall glass – To serve your Thai Iced Tea over ice.
- Stirring spoon – For mixing the tea and boba.
- Boba straw – A wide straw for enjoying your drink with tapioca pearls.
- Optional: Blender – If you prefer making a slushy version.
Instructions
How to make Thai iced tea with boba is easy if you buy the boba premade and just boil them (or already boiled and ready to serve), or you can use the homemade recipe for boba balls.
Brew the Thai Tea
- Bring the water to a rolling boil.
- Add the black tea and star anise. Steep for ten minutes.
- Add the sugar and vanilla extract. Be sure the sugar dissolves.
- Allow the tea to cool completely before adding ice.
Prepare the Boba Tapioca Pearls
- Follow package instructions and be sure to steep the pearls until they are translucent. Skip if you are purchasing ready to serve boba balls.
- Drain and rinse with cold water, then soak in brown sugar or honey for added sweetness.
Assemble the Thai Iced Tea
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the cooled Thai tea over the ice.
- Add soaked tapioca pearls to the glass.
- Mix the evaporated milk and half and half cream in a separate cup then slowly pour in the milk mixture into the Thai tea for a beautiful swirling effect.
- Stir and enjoy with a wide boba straw!
Tips for the Best Thai Iced Tea with Boba
- 🥄 Use authentic Thai tea mix for the best flavor. Brands like Pantai or Number One ChaTraMue Thai Tea Mix work great.
- 🥥 Go dairy-free by swapping milk for coconut milk or oat milk.
- Make it extra cold by chilling the tea before serving
- 🍯 Sweeten to taste—adjust the sugar or use condensed milk for a richer flavor.
- Experiment with flavors—add a splash of vanilla, almond extract, orange blossom water, or cardamom for a unique twist.
- Make it Strong by steeping more black tea leaves in the water.
Questions
My Thai tea isn’t orange.
Thai tea is orange from coloring. Sometimes, depending on the tea you use, the Thai tea will not be orange.
Thai Iced Tea is a beloved drink for a reason—it’s creamy, flavorful, and incredibly refreshing. With the addition of tapioca pearls, you get the best of both worlds: the richness of Thai tea and the chewiness of boba.
Try this recipe at home and let us know—do you prefer classic Thai Iced Tea or the fun boba version? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!
Thai Iced Tea with Boba Balls
Equipment
- saucepan
- Strainer or tea infuser
- Tall glasses
- Stirring spoons
- Boba Straws
- Optional: Blender – If you prefer making a slushy version.
Ingredients
- 3 bags Thai Tea Mix or Assam black tea
- ½ teaspoon crushed star anise
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar adjust to taste
- ½ cup ice cubes
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- ½ cup half-and-half
For the Boba (Tapioca Pearls) Version:
- homemade boba balls or use tapioca pearls – follow package instructions
Instructions
Brew the Thai Tea
- Bring the water to a rolling boil.2 cups hot water
- Add the black tea and star anise. Steep for ten minutes.3 bags Thai Tea Mix or Assam black tea, ½ teaspoon crushed star anise
- Add the sugar and vanilla extract. Be sure the sugar dissolves.½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Allow the tea to cool completely before adding ice.
Prepare the Boba Tapioca Pearls
- Follow package instructions and be sure to steep the pearls until they are translucent. Skip if you are purchasing ready to serve boba balls.Drain and rinse with cold water, then soak in brown sugar or honey for added sweetness.homemade boba balls
Assemble the Thai Iced Tea
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour the cooled Thai tea over the ice.½ cup ice cubes
- Add soaked tapioca pearls to the glass.
- Mix the evaporated milk and half and half cream in a separate cup then slowly pour in the milk mixture into the Thai tea for a beautiful swirling effect.Stir and enjoy with a wide boba straw!½ cup evaporated milk, ½ cup half-and-half
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