TeaChat

I've been hunting for a recipe for thai iced tea -- there are plenty of tutorials online, but most just say "buy thai tea powder/bags & drop it in boiling water" >_<
Ones that don't suggest some spices like cardamom, star anise, cloves... but so far I've tried those and the tea (while nicely flavored) doesn't smell like the thai tea I'm used to (one that's served in restaraunts)

Does anyone have an idea what really goes in there?

A whole lot of sugar. and milk.

Honestly I've never tried making it at home, but it doesn't seem so far off from indian chai... which is usually made with (black) orange pekoe tea. At restaurants I've never really noticed any additional spices put in.

They add orange blossom water and food coloring too; I think most just use a mix in Thailand though!

fry kum, which restaurants? where?

Thai iced tea on the street, is cheap tea dust used in quantity brewed long; often then mixed w/ some quickly infused; then, added is a lot of sugar, then, sometimes, a pinch or more of salt & menow (cross between lemon & lime-- or, sweetened condensed milk that contains a significant amount of palm kernel oil.
Some restaurants replicate this; some don't.

chingwa wrote:At restaurants I've never really noticed any additional spices put in.

No, I think the restaurants usually just buy bagged premixed thai tea (with food coloring)

ethan wrote:fry kum, which restaurants? where?

Most Thai restaurants in US (Bay Area, in particular).


http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Thai-Ic ... B004EEW2HW I've tried this one -- it has the right smell/taste but I want to know what's in it

This one appears to be just tea and food coloring...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KK ... B000KK39CQ

In Boston the Thai restaurants seem to give one strong tea w/ lots of sweetened condensed milk on top which comes down very slowly because of the ice. (no palm kernel oil)
I haven't had Thai ice tea w/ spices anywhere

jayinhk wrote:This one appears to be just tea and food coloring...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KK ... B000KK39CQ

Exactly. I don't want to drink the food coloring for no reason, so I'm trying to find what's in there.


To everyone mentioning sugar & dairy: yes, I know it comes loaded with those. The base flavor is still different than a plain black tea -- it's kind of similar to pu-erh, but it doesn't match any pu-erh I've tried to date. I want to know what that base flavor is -- whether it's spices or fermentation/etc.

Thanks!

Totally understandable, I'm not a fan of artificial coloring either! Now you've got me curious too!

I swear, it's almost as if it were a trade secret or something, like the recipe for Coke

Fry-kun wrote:To everyone mentioning sugar & dairy: yes, I know it comes loaded with those. The base flavor is still different than a plain black tea -- it's kind of similar to pu-erh, but it doesn't match any pu-erh I've tried to date. I want to know what that base flavor is -- whether it's spices or fermentation/etc.

Thanks!

I read a blog written by a worker at the Sribhud tea factory in Thailand, and they said that secondary fermentation within the factory was key to the unique flavor. I think they weren't supposed to say that, though, as the post was later taken down... I don't know if there are also added spices or not.

I tried Thai iced tea last time I went to a local Thai place. I'll have to say it was the most revolting thing :/

There was an intense sweetness to it, but it certainly did not taste like sugar sweetness.

M.

mbanu wrote: I read a blog written by a worker at the Sribhud tea factory in Thailand, and they said that secondary fermentation within the factory was key to the unique flavor. I think they weren't supposed to say that, though, as the post was later taken down... I don't know if there are also added spices or not.

Thanks, that's most likely the case.
Here's an interesting snippet that google found (it's just a subframe in a larger page; no idea which one):
http://static.fastcommerce.com/content/ ... 10001.html

Now, if only we could ask Adagio to stock some of this fermented tea

So... who should we contact at Adagio to ask them to carry fermented Thai tea?

Fry-kun wrote:So... who should we contact at Adagio to ask them to carry fermented Thai tea?

You can post your recommendation here:
http://www.teachat.com/viewforum.php?f=10