I’m always curious where the orange color of Thai Tea comes from, especially when I started working on finding the perfect Thai Tea for TAAN THAI. We did some of our own research, and here is what we found!
Thai Tea is a part of shared culture across South and East Asia. In India, there is “Chai” (or Masala Chai), made from a mix of species steeped in black tea and milk. In Taiwan, of course, there is the famous Taiwanese Milk Tea, which introduces the tapioca pearls, or “Boba” in the tea. In Malaysia, there is “Teh Tarik,” literally translated as “pulled tea.” The name derives from how it was made. Thai Tea also uses black tea (Assam or Cylon teas) mixed with condensed milk and distinguishes itself from other milk teas by its orange color.
But where does this orange come from? Originally, the orange in Thai Tea came from a mix of spices such as star anise, much like in India Chai. However, Thai Tea as we understand it now is made almost exclusively from the orange/yellow food coloring. The unique color in Thai Tea does not actually change the taste of the tea. However, people still love the orange hue in Thai Tea.
How do people enjoy Thai Tea in Thailand? There are different ways we can enjoy Thai tea, hot or cold. We have “Cha Yen” or the original Thai Iced Tea that has become popular in other countries around the world. But we also have “Cha Dum Yen,” Thai Iced Black Tea (without condensed milk). Both are widely popular in Thailand as stable drinks in Thai street food culture.
During our product development, so many people asked us if it’s possible to make Thai Tea without food coloring. Well, we actually did a customer survey, and the results are very well divided. Some people would love to have Thai Tea with an authentic orange hue, and some people would prefer the version without food coloring.
With our TAAN THAI Thai Tea Drip Bags, we let you enjoy Thai Tea in both versions, with and without the food coloring. Your Thai Tea, Your Choice!