| If you have ever eaten in a Thai or perhaps a | | | | the tea into the pitcher, and remember, it needs |
| Vietnamese restaurant, then you have probably | | | | to be a pitcher that can take the heat, for that |
| seen an interesting orange colored beverage in a | | | | tea is going to be very hot. This might take a little |
| tall glass go by with a waiter or waitress you've | | | | time, as 2/3 cup of tea is quite a lot to strain. |
| often wondered just what kind of drink this might | | | | Poor the tea through the strainer a little at a time, |
| be. You're pretty sure it's a Thai drink.... after all, | | | | and when it begins to fill up with wet tea leaves, |
| you are in a Thai restaurant! But, just what is it | | | | you can stop and remove the tea leaves, and |
| made of? | | | | then began to strain the tea again. |
| What you have seen is called Thai Iced tea. | | | | Once you have strained all of the tea, and it is |
| Surprise! It doesn't look much like any tea that | | | | safely in the pitcher, you can stir the ½ cup |
| you are probably used to seeing. But, it is tea! It's | | | | of sugar into the brew. It is best to do this while |
| just prepared in a different way that you may | | | | the black tea is still fairly hot, since the heat will |
| not have heard of before. It looks intriguing, and it | | | | help the sugar to dissolve faster. Have you ever |
| tastes wonderful, and is very welcome on a hot | | | | tried to get sugar to dissolve in cold tea? It |
| summer day, or whenever you are eating hot, | | | | doesn't work very well. |
| spicy food. | | | | Now, you need to allow the tea to cool for a |
| Normally, Thai restaurants are not too giving | | | | while, so place it in the refrigerator, and be patient! |
| when it comes to their recipes. But, the recipe for | | | | You'll get to sample this tea soon enough! |
| Thai Iced tea wasn't too hard to come by. It is | | | | An hour and a half goes by slowly... |
| such a staple Thai beverage that almost anyone | | | | Are you ready? Good! The tea should be cool |
| who knows their Thai food can tell you how to | | | | enough now, so you can take it out of the |
| prepare it. | | | | refrigerator. Get out two tall glasses, preferably |
| The type of tea that is used in Thai restaurants is | | | | made of clear glass, as it shows up the intriguing |
| called Lapsang Suchong and it can be found on | | | | looks of the tea much better than a solid colored |
| the internet. You can also use any good quality | | | | glass would. |
| black loose tea and end up with the same results. | | | | Fill the two glasses with ice cubes. Take the tea |
| You will need around 2/3 cup of black tea leaves | | | | pitcher, and pour the cool tea over the ice, but do |
| to make two glasses of Thai Iced tea. | | | | not fill the glass all the way to the top! You want |
| You'll also need 1 and 2/3 cup of good-tasting | | | | to leave around one fourth of the glass empty up |
| water, preferably purified, ½ cup of sugar, | | | | at the top. Get out the evaporated milk, and |
| and 1 ½ cups of evaporated milk, which is | | | | slowly pour it into the top of each glass. |
| the amount that is in a 12 ounce can of the drink. | | | | You want two layers of color to show, so make |
| Add to the recipe ingredients a few pieces of | | | | sure you pour carefully to insure that they do. If |
| kitchen equipment, such as a teakettle or a large | | | | you are having trouble with the layers mixing into |
| cooking utensil to boil water in, a large tea | | | | each other on the first glass, you might want to |
| strainer, or you can go Asian for this recipe and | | | | try this tip on the second glass as you are |
| try to locate a traditional Asian tea sock! Have | | | | preparing it. Take your iced tea spoon, and hold it |
| ready a pitcher that can take the heat of boiling | | | | over the glass. Pour the evaporated milk slowly |
| water, and a long spoon for stirring. | | | | onto the back of the spoon, letting it run into the |
| Place the water into the kettle or utensil and bring | | | | glass of tea. This should do the trick. |
| it to a rolling boil. Remove the water from the | | | | You will need either a straw or an iced tea spoon |
| stove's heat. You don't want the tea to boil, as | | | | to drink Thai Iced tea properly. Some people like |
| this would make it bitter. Add the 2/3 cup of | | | | to mix the milk into their iced Thai tea right from |
| black tea leaves to the water, and stir them with | | | | the start. Others enjoy sipping their sweetened |
| the long spoon to make sure that they have all | | | | tea through the layer of milk. It all depends on |
| been covered with water. You want the tea | | | | how it tastes best to you, and it's fun to |
| leaves to steep for 5 minutes. | | | | experiment with both ways! |
| When 5 minutes have passed, it's time to strain | | | | |