CHA YEN

Cha Yen image

In America's Thai restaurants, this cool, sweet treat converts many a timid first-timer to a Thai food fanatic on the spot. Cha Yen or "cold tea" is made form a special Thai blend of chopped black tea leaves flavored and perfumed with star anise, cinnamon, vanilla, and other sweet spices. A little food coloring gives it it's signature terra-cotta hue. It is sold in Asian markets in 1-pound bags, usually labeled Thai tea or cha Thai. In Thailand, it is only served cold and supersweet, crowned with a luxurious cloud of evaporated milk floating on the ice. Thais like their tea very sweet. But you can decrease the amount of syrup to taste. The tea-syrup mixture will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week.

Provided by Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 35m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

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Ingredients

4 cups water
3/4 cup Thai tea
1 1/2 cups Sugar Syrup, recipe follows
Crushed ice or ice cubes to fill each glass
1 to 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk or half-and-half (3 to 4 tablespoons per glass)
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Steps:

In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a rolling boil, and place a heatproof 1-quart pitcher in the sink. When the water boils, add the tea and remove the pan from the heat. The tea will float to the top until you stir gently to coax it into the water. When all of the tea leaves are wet, let it steep for 3 minutes.
Pour the contents of the saucepan into the pitcher, and don't worry if the dregs are left behind. Pour the tea back and forth between the pitcher and the saucepan 7 times as it becomes darker and stronger, ending up with the tea in the saucepan. Rinse out the pitcher and strain the tea through a coffee filter back into the pitcher. Add the syrup and stir to dissolve. Cool to room temperature, cover and chill until serving time.
To serve, fill tall glasses with crushed iced. Add 3/4 cup of the chilled Thai tea per glass. Top off each glass with 3 to 4 tablespoons evaporated milk. Serve as the milk cascades over the ice and swirls into the tea.
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain an active simmer and cook until liquid has thickened and colored slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
Pour the cooled syrup into a jar with a tight-fitting lid, cover, and store at room temperature for 1 week, or in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Ikram Jan

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This was a great recipe! The cha yen was delicious and easy to make. I loved the combination of the tea, milk, and sugar. The tapioca pearls were also a nice touch. I will definitely be making this again.

Khalidat ishola

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Larry Miller

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Abdalah Hiare

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Arshad Marnitz

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abdrehman legas

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David Dekaglo

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Cherrii Fizz

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This was a great recipe! The cha yen was delicious and easy to make. I loved the addition of the tapioca pearls - they were a fun and tasty addition. I'll definitely be making this again.

Mushid Sai

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This cha yen was delicious and easy to make. I loved the combination of the tea, milk, and sugar. The tapioca pearls were also a nice touch. I will definitely be making this again.

mulugeta mengstu

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This was a great recipe! The cha yen was delicious and easy to make. I loved the addition of the tapioca pearls - they were a fun and tasty addition. I'll definitely be making this again.

Gopal Barmon

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This was an amazing recipe! The cha yen was so flavorful and refreshing. I loved the combination of the tea, milk, and sugar. The tapioca pearls were also a nice touch. I will definitely be making this again.

Jahirul Hoq

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This was a great recipe! The cha yen was delicious and easy to make. I loved the addition of the tapioca pearls - they were a fun and tasty addition. I'll definitely be making this again.

Nosimphiwe Mdingi

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This cha yen was delicious! The tea was fragrant and flavorful, and the milk and sugar added just the right amount of sweetness. The tapioca pearls were also a nice addition - they were chewy and delicious. I'll definitely be making this again!

Asia Imran

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I followed the recipe exactly, and my cha yen turned out great! The tea was strong and flavorful, and the milk and sugar added just the right amount of sweetness. The tapioca pearls were also cooked perfectly - they were chewy and delicious. This is

Sona Chandi

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This is my favorite cha yen recipe! The tea is perfectly brewed, and the milk and sugar are balanced just right. I also love the addition of the cardamom - it gives the drink a unique and flavorful twist. This is a perfect drink for a hot summer day.

Channsaith Saith

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I've made cha yen many times before, and this recipe is one of the best I've tried. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the end result was a delicious and refreshing drink. I especially liked the use of evaporated milk - it gave the c

jordie gaming

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This was my first time making cha yen, and it turned out great! The tea was fragrant and flavorful, and the milk and sugar added just the right amount of sweetness. I also loved the addition of the tapioca pearls - they were chewy and delicious. I'll

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