China’s culture of drinking tea has spread widely across the continent, but what is truly fascinating is how different regions have developed their own tea-based beverages to suit local tastes and preferences.
In Thailand, the beverage of choice is cha yen or Thai milk tea. From humble Thai streetside vendors to swanky tea shops, few drinks have charmed the world quite like this milky orange brew. Sweet, aromatic and refreshing, it’s a firm favorite that can be enjoyed at any time of day.
How did Thai milk tea come about?
Tea became a common beverage in Thailand thanks to Chinese immigrants and merchants during the reign of King Rama V. However, due to high prices and the country’s tropical climate, Thais began developing their own version using locally grown tea leaves — paving the way for what we now know as cha yen or Thai milk tea.
The Thai tea that forms the base of cha yen typically consists of homegrown Assam black tea. To make it more palatable in the heat, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and crushed ice were added to the recipe. Although the tea has a naturally reddish-brown color that lightens when milk is added, some vendors may enhance its iconic orange hue using safflower or food coloring.
The emergence of ice factories and kopitiams — traditional coffee shops popular across Southeast Asia — made the drink affordable and widely accessible, helping to fuel the nationwide popularity of cha yen.
The flavors of Thai milk tea
Cha yen translates directly to “cold tea,” however, the chilled core ingredients are often enhanced in various recipes with additions like cream, fresh milk, sugar, or syrup that bring out specific flavor profiles.Whether made by an uncle using a cloth filter from a pushcart or by a barista at a luxury hotel, the key to a great cha yen lies in the perfect balance of sweetness, creaminess, and aromatic tea.
To make the perfect cha yen, you need to get the right proportion between each element and avoid brewing the tea for too long, according to Raheel Phetpradub, barista at The Lounge at the Two MICHELIN Key Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River.
“Our Thai milk tea is made with premium loose-leaf tea that has been steeping for half an hour the old-fashioned way, so the flavors can slowly unravel,” he explains. “It’s important not to let the tea steep for too long, or it becomes bitter. Your water should also stay below 90 degrees Celsius because if it’s too hot, it will scald the tea and make it bitter.”
The Lounge’s cha yen also features an extra touch: a feather-light, vanilla-scented whipped cream topping. “This adds a pop of fun to the basic drink while also cancelling out any bitterness from the tea with its sweet creaminess,” says Phetpradub.
“Cha yen is so popular because it has a light mouthfeel that’s easy to drink, but it’s rich in flavor,” says Teeraya Tadprai, barista at Bangkok Trading Post, a brunch café inside the One MICHELIN Key 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok.
“It’s not complicated, and it has a distinctly sweet aroma. Other teas may have stronger or floral notes, but the blend we use has a hint of vanilla. It doesn’t have any other spices mixed in, so the mild taste and sweet aroma make it easy for everyone to enjoy.”
Today, growing health awareness and a focus on reducing sugar have prompted many cafés to offer adjustable sweetness levels. At Bangkok Trading Post, which focuses on health-conscious menus, syrup is served on the side with its cha yen. For many, however, drinking cha yen without its saccharine note would be missing a key characteristic of the drink.
“This drink is basically delicious because of the sweetened condensed milk,” says Kanyalak Boon-nok, head barista at Mocha & Muffins at the One MICHELIN Key Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. “If you only add sugar or syrup, it gives a sharp sweetness. Sweetened condensed milk blends everything with more rounded flavors.”
Cha yen’s distinctive sweet aroma and orange color also make it well-suited to flavoring desserts. At Mocha & Muffins, guests can enjoy Thai flavors in a Western form through cha yen-inspired muffins and bite-sized sweets. The cha yen muffin captures the taste and aroma of Thai tea in every element, from the bun dough to the luscious lava cream filling.
The drink also pairs beautifully with Thai food — whether it’s pad Thai, fried rice, or phad kaprao. Its sweetness and creaminess complement or balance spicy and savory flavors. It can even stand in for dessert or complement less sugary sweets such as danishes and shortcakes.
Despite its versatility, Thai milk tea is just as enjoyable on its own. “I drink it alone too in the morning,” smiles Phetpradub. “It can substitute for coffee because it has caffeine, and it gives me a burst of energy from its sugar content.”
Where to find cha yen?
Cha yen is an inexpensive drink, easily found across the country at drink stalls and coffee pushcarts, where it is traditionally poured over crushed ice into a plastic bag that consumers can easily hang or carry. It is also a staple at cafés, lounges, and Thai restaurants. For an upscale take on cha yen, head to these MICHELIN-selected hotels and restaurants, each offering its own spin on the iconic drink.
The Lounge
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Two MICHELIN Keys 2024The hotel’s airy, serene lounge, accented with reflective pools, brings a refined touch to every drink. Its Thai tea blend, made with Assam tea leaves sourced from both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, is elevated with a flourish of vanilla-scented whipped cream for a sweet and frothy finish.
Address: 300/1 Charoenkrung Road, Yan Nawa, Sathon, Bangkok.
Bangkok Bold (Pathum Wan)
MICHELIN-selected, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025Bangkok Bold lives up to its name, dishing out ‘basic and bold’ with clever, creative twists. For a refreshingly cool pick-me-up, try their Thai milk tea frappe — a frosty spin on the classic that’s as daring in flavour as it is in attitude.
Address: LGF, Central Embassy, 1031 Phloen Chit Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok.
Bangkok Trading Post
137 Pillars Suites Bangkok, One MICHELIN Key 2024This cosy brunch spot, with a pet-friendly garden patio, serves up Western comfort fare with a wholesome twist. Knowing that sweetness preferences vary, the Thai milk tea here comes with syrup on the side, so diners can sweeten to taste.
Address: 59/1 Soi Sukhumvit 39, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok.
Baannok Bangkok
MICHELIN-selected, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025Baannok Bangkok serves authentic Korat-style Thai cuisine, with the region’s characteristic sweetness subtly toned down to suit broader palates. Don’t miss their inventive dessert featuring Sicha’s Thai tea jelly, topped with a light, fresh cream espuma.
Address: 34/3 VIVRE Building, Lang Suan Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok.
Mocha & Muffins
Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, One MICHELIN Key 2024This all-day café, known for its tempting display of oversized pastries, brings Thai milk tea into unexpected treats — think Thai tea-flavored macarons, chocolate pralines, and muffins. Their cha yen comes topped with an adorable Thai tea ice cube shaped like a teddy bear — a playful touch that never fails to delight guests.
Address: 155 Rajadamri Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok.
Illustration image: © Anuwat Senivansa Na Ayudhya/ MICHELIN Guide Thailand
