Thai Iced Tea

Posted by admin on July 15th, 2009 filed in Travel

For those on a search for truly excellent 5-star hotels, Thailand has so much to offer.  The country has an outstanding array of fantastic cities, with rich and lively urban scenes, as well as some of the most beautiful places on the planet.  The hotels are a rich combination of old-world charm, with hospitality as the rule of the day, and contemporary amenities to keep you comfortable and well-connected to the world at large.  The food is prepared by world-class chefs who know the local culinary traditions as well as some of the liveliest trends in international cooking.  The hotels are staffed by friendly people who are well-informed and can help make your visit here splendid.  There are plenty of distractions in the hotel to keep you focused on the rejuvenation of the mind and body, and the cities have all sorts of activities to keep your spirits fresh.

Thai culture seems very tuned in to the good life, to enjoying the moment.  As it might be expected, then, the night life here is spectacular, and there are also a wide range of activities during the day that will keep the whole family enjoying their stay.  Among all the pleasures for the senses, including wonderful beaches, internationally-known night clubs, and a magnificent climate, none can compare with the food and drink.  One of Thailand’s most popular taste sensations known to the world is the iced tea.  Anyone who has eaten in a Thai restaurant has probably heard, and likely tried, the delicious Thai iced tea.

This is a recipe that is attempted all over, and usually combines three main ingredients: tea leaves, milk, and sugar.  It’s very simple, very rich, and there’s lots of variation, just like the country itself.  There is some debate over whether condensed or evaporated milk make the best tea, and some of the best recipes use a combination of both (and of course, there’s always an option for no milk at all).  There are also some who will experiment with different kinds of orange flavor to give it that special something that’s hard to imitate, but the secret here is to use Thai tea leaves, which have the flavor already in the leaf.  To make authentic Thai tea, one would need to use a tea sock.  It can be recreated, then, anywhere, but the best way to try it is in Thailand.  Here, it’s not usually served in the tall glasses, but poured into plastic bags, so it can be sipped with a straw on the street or on the beach.