Thai Iced Tea with Star Anise Recipe
From:
Field Guide to Herbs & Spices
, by
Aliza Green
Makes:
1/2 gallon
A spicy and refreshing drink, topped with half-and-half or sweetened condensed milk.
What to buy: Look for orange flower water at Kalustyan’s.com
INGREDIENTS
- 8 star anise pods, finely crushed
- 1 teaspoon orange blossom water
- 1 vanilla pod (or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract)
- Pinch ground cloves
- Pinch ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup loose Chinese black tea leaves
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Few drops red food coloring (optional)
- Half-and-half or sweetened condensed milk
INSTRUCTIONS
- Bring 1/2 gallon of cold water to a boil. Add 8 finely crushed star anise pods, 1 teaspoon orange blossom water, the scrapings of 1 vanilla pod or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, a pinch each of ground cloves and ground cinnamon, and 1/2 cup Chinese black tea leaves.
- Boil for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup sugar and a few drops of red food coloring (optional, though traditional). Cover, steeping until tepid.
- Strain and pour the tea over plenty of crushed ice. Top with half-and-half or sweetened condensed milk.
This recipe, while from a trusted source, may not have been tested by the CHOW food
team.
I've been making a simple variation of this for years using loose rooibos tea, star anise, vanilla bean, cinnamon, and red food coloring. It seems to taste better with rooibos rather than actual black tea in my opinion.
This is only when i have run out of the "thai tea powder" that is really cheap online and completely authentic. I have seen it for $5 per pound at some places!
themorse, how did it turn out? Did you use half and half or sweetened condensed milk?
A note on making the tea (now that I've made some at 4 a.m.): I have a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker (it was a gift, don't judge me!) and I found this was so simple to make in that. I placed a coffee filter with all the dry ingredients in the basket, set the brew strength to the strongest, and dumped the sugar, vanilla extract, and orange flower water in the bottom of the pitcher. Press the button,...+READ
A note on making the tea (now that I've made some at 4 a.m.): I have a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker (it was a gift, don't judge me!) and I found this was so simple to make in that. I placed a coffee filter with all the dry ingredients in the basket, set the brew strength to the strongest, and dumped the sugar, vanilla extract, and orange flower water in the bottom of the pitcher. Press the button, and voila, you have deep, dark, richly spiced Thai tea. I did not, however, put ice cubes in the pitcher with this brew - I would rather chill it in the fridge.-COLLAPSE
YES!!! Finally, a recipe for the actual spiced tea! All my Thai cookbooks simply tell you to bre "Thai tea" and add sugar and evaporated milk or half and half; one even went so far as to say it does include star anise (which is the only reason I have star anise in my kitchen). But never (until now) have I found an actual recipe for the tea from start to finish. THANK YOU!!! This is my favorite...+READ
YES!!! Finally, a recipe for the actual spiced tea! All my Thai cookbooks simply tell you to bre "Thai tea" and add sugar and evaporated milk or half and half; one even went so far as to say it does include star anise (which is the only reason I have star anise in my kitchen). But never (until now) have I found an actual recipe for the tea from start to finish. THANK YOU!!! This is my favorite iced drink and I'm going to make some right now!-COLLAPSE