Thai Iced Coffee Recipe at Home
You’ve probably come across their Thai iced coffee if you’ve been to Thailand.
In this article, I will look at it and how to prepare it.
Three ingredients distinguish it from other drinks: condensed milk, coffee, and some flavoring.
The coffee should be strong enough to feel the caffeinated kick it gives when you mix it with sweet and creamy condensed milk. The texture must be thin and semi-thick.
Traditional recipes mix spices such as cardamom in their coffee to give warming spices. Exciting combination.
You will understand the benefits, calories, history, and different ways of preparing this fresh drink.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- The Culture of Thai Coffee
- What Is Thai Iced Coffee?
- Why do you have to use Cardamom for Thai Coffee?
- How To Make Authentic Thai Iced Coffee Recipe At Home?
- How Can You Tweak This Recipe?
- How Much Caffeine Is In Thai Iced Coffee?
- How Many Calories Does Thai Iced Coffee Have?
- Are Thai Iced Coffee And Vietnamese Coffee The Same?
- Benefits Of Thai Iced Coffee
- Does Thai Iced Coffee Give You Energy?
- How Much Sugar Does Thai Iced Coffee have?
The Culture of Thai Coffee
In Thailand, coffee is served at any time of the day by street vendors or in coffee shops. Street carts are open early, usually from 4 a.m. until 10 a.m. They are generally located in downtown areas or other crowded areas. Instant coffee like Nescafe is a favorite choice in numerous street carts.
The traditional Thai coffee shops offer the most distinct style of coffee, not Italian espresso or Turkish coffee. It’s not surprising that due to the proximity of Vietnam, there are hot Thai coffees that will remind you of Vietnamese coffee. This is due to the condensed milk added to a beverage made from Robusta coffee beans.
A large portion of the coffee consumed throughout Thailand will be an iced beverage known as Oliang (“o” meaning “black” in Thai, and “Liang” refers to “cold”). It can look like an Americano, but the taste will likely differ.
Espresso beans are traditionally first roasted on an open fire.
They are again roasted using brown rice or corn and tamarind seeds, sometimes cardamom and even soy.
In the end, there is brown sugar to caramelize the coffee.
The coffee mix is then put into an air-tight filter in a cotton bag and soaked in hot water. Then, the condensed milk is added in the end.
What Is Thai Iced Coffee?
The original term for traditional Thai Iced Coffee is Oliang or Oleang.
To make Oliang, you need more than simply coffee poured over ice cubes or vanilla ice cream. Instead, the tasty beverage is a unique combination of coffee and numerous additional components. The most prevalent ingredients in recipes include maize, soybeans, cardamom, sesame seeds, and rice. The mixture is often offered as a powder, comparable to ground coffee.
There are many other ways to make Thai Iced Coffee.
Still, the most common method is to use the traditional filter, including two pieces of cloth, one for the coffee and the other for the water. The Oliang is either black or with condensed or regular milk over ice. Also, Customers may request a small cup of simple syrup from the barista to sweeten their coffee to their taste.
Why do you have to use Cardamom for Thai Coffee?
Cardamom is an aromatic spice native to India and part of the ginger family. It is more refreshing than ginger and has a blend of spice and sweetness with a hint of citrus. Cardamom may be a more balanced flavor than ginger, but in the same way, it’s more robust, and a small amount goes quite a way.
You can find Cardamom in papery green pods filled with tiny black seeds. With the aid of a pestle and mortar, it is easy to crush seeds, or you can grind the pods and seeds in one go.
On the market, you can also find a black Cardamom. Its taste is sweet and smoky instead of spicy.
Due to its spicy and sweet profile, Cardamom is an excellent choice for sweet and savory applications.
You can use Cardamom to add flavor to rice, chicken baked goods, tea, and numerous Indian recipes. It’s also delicious when paired with spices like cinnamon or ginger.
How To Make Authentic Thai Iced Coffee Recipe At Home?
In Thailand, regular ice coffee is available at every turn. This delectable dessert is never far away, whether from street carts, bottled in supermarkets, or from a Dum Dum franchise restaurant or Starbucks. However, you may not be that fortunate to be able to finance a short journey to Bangkok just for a taste of Oliang. However, it would be well worth it.
But there’s no need to miss out entirely. I’ve got your back! Fortunately, creating Oliang at home is simple with suitable materials and equipment. Although you may prepare your own coffee blend, a ready-made Thai iced coffee mix is preferable. A wide variety of Asian markets and websites offer these items for purchase. The caffeine content of typical mixtures is comparable to that of regular coffee. If you’re searching for a decaffeinated version, you’ll have to make your own Oliang mix.
For vegans, I suggest substituting sweetened coconut milk for condensed milk. It closely matches dairy’s additional sweet touch and creaminess as a non-dairy replacement. Of course, this only works if you like the unique coconut taste. Alternatively, you may just enjoy the distinctive scent of Thai Iced Coffee on the rocks.
Can’t wait to get your hands on a cup of this ice-cold delectableness? Let`s see how you can prepare it at home.
Ingredients
For the Cardamom Syrup:
- 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds
- 6 cardamom pods
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of water
For the Thai Iced Coffee:
- 2-3 tablespoons instant ground coffee
- 1/4 cup hot water
- ½ cold water
- 2 tablespoons of Sesame Cardamom Syrup
- 1-2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk
- Ice cubes
Step-by-step preparation
How to prepare the Sesame Cardamom Syrup?
- Place 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds and the 6 pods of cardamom in the saucepan with 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water.
- Let the syrup simmer at a medium temperature until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Remove the syrup from the heat and let the syrup cool completely.
- After cooling, it is time to strain the syrup and discard the pods and seeds.
- Keep the syrup in a fridge for up to two weeks. You can use it whenever you want.
How to prepare Thai Coffee?
- Combine the 2-3 tablespoons instant ground coffee with 1/2 cup of hot water and allow it to dissolve.
- After the coffee is ready add ½ cup of cold water to reduce the temperature. You can put the beverage in the fridge or use it immediately.
- Add 2 tablespoons of sesame syrup in the coffee and whisk it.
- Put the ice cubes in the coffee cup.
- Pour the 1-2 tablespoons of condensed sweetened milk over the ice.
- Enjoy.
How Can You Tweak This Recipe?
Because condensed milk is the sole sweetener in Thai coffee, you may modify the quantity. You can leave the heavy cream, but it helps make Thai iced coffee look like a milkshake. I like to keep things basic most of the time, but there are a few minor tweaks that I enjoy having on occasion.
Spice Things Up
A spice, such as cardamon or allspice, is a typical addition to Thai iced coffee. The heat of the spice gives Thai coffee a fresh bite, which is a pleasant change of pace if you’re seeking to try something new. I like to spice up my Thai coffee and serve it hot for something different. A hot, spiced Thai coffee cup is the ideal sweet treat on a chilly winter day.
It is totally up to you how much spice you need. Start with a tiny amount and add more when you taste it if you don’t want the spice to overshadow the rest of the coffee. Most people seem to like around a quarter teaspoon.
I favor cardamom to allspice, although both are delicious. Feel free to try out anything you believe will work. I haven’t tried cinnamon in my Thai coffee, but I’ve heard it’s delicious.
Add Vanilla
Vanilla extract is also appropriate in Thai coffee. If Thai coffee isn’t sweet enough for you, try adding a dash of vanilla extract. Because vanilla extract has a robust flavor, proceed with caution. A 1/4 teaspoon should be more than sufficient.
Add Almond
You don’t have to meticulously slice almonds to infuse your Thai coffee with a delightful almond taste. The simplest method is to add a splash of almond milk to the mixture. To add even more flavor without diluting the coffee, add about a 1/4 teaspoon of almond essence. I like almond extract to keep the coffee flavor strong, but either choice tastes fantastic.
Make It An After-Dinner Drink
Thai coffee is an excellent foundation for an after-dinner alcoholic beverage, whether iced or hot. The obvious option is Kahlua or similar coffee liqueurs, but don’t be afraid to be inventive. I like to add some Bourbon or Rye to my Thai coffee to make it taste like Irish coffee.
How Much Caffeine Is In Thai Iced Coffee?
A cup of coffee typically has 95mg of caffeine. Thus Thai Iced coffee may include 100mg to 150mg of caffeine. Caffeine may be present in cocoa, tea, and coffee beans, among other things. It is a naturally stimulating agent that promotes the body’s brain and central nervous system’s functions. Caffeine works by inhibiting the adenosine receptors that cause you to go asleep; hence, the blockage keeps you awake, aware, and energetic.
The FDA recommends that a healthy person consume no more than 400mg of caffeine per day. This limit is solely recommended to prevent overdosing since overdosing may result in significant health risks such as:
- Insomnia;
- Anxiety;
- Abnormal Heart Rhythym;
- Depression;
- Mood swings.
So, if you’re caffeine sensitive, I’d recommend keeping track of your caffeine consumption and reading the nutritional label of whatever you’re eating to keep things healthy. However, the caffeine content in Thai Iced Coffee is sufficient to boost and aid in mental and physical performance.
How Many Calories Does Thai Iced Coffee Have?
Thai Iced Coffee has around 155 calories per cup. Its calorie content indicates how much energy you will receive from that drink. It does provide you power but promotes weight growth concurrently. If you have an active lifestyle, a cup of Thai Iced Coffee in the morning may help you get through your day. Still, if you are health-conscious or on a weight-loss program, you may want to rethink your decision.
The NHS recommends 2,000 calories per day for women and 2,500 calories per day for males. This indicates that a cup of this coffee won’t deplete your calories considerably. Still, if you’re a gym-goer, you’ll need to exercise in moderation.
Are Thai Iced Coffee And Vietnamese Coffee The Same?
Thai Iced Coffee and Vietnamese Iced Coffee have many commonalities but also significant differences. In particular, Thai Iced coffee and Vietnamese coffee are made in distinct ways. Thai Iced coffee is produced using a tungdtom, a coffee sock filter consisting of a muslin bag with a metal ring and a handle. On the other hand, Vietnamese Iced coffee uses the ‘Phin,’ a Vietnamese single-serving filter. Furthermore, Vietnamese Iced Coffee is sweeter. Spices are added during the brewing process in Thai Iced Coffee to give it a powerful scent and flavor that will rejuvenate your mind and spirit.
Benefits Of Thai Iced Coffee
Thai Iced Coffee has several advantages, including:
- Cardamom may aid in the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases.
- It has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
- It promotes circulation and protects against cardiovascular disease.
- Cinnamon aids in blood sugar regulation and is a potent antioxidant.
- It also aids in the improvement of brain processes.
- It aids in fat burning and reduces the risk of heart disease.
The above are only a few of the numerous advantages. If you’re receiving that many benefits from one drink, you should drink it three to four times a week.
Does Thai Iced Coffee Give You Energy?
Thai Iced Coffee provides you with a boost of energy. It has a lot of calories, a fair quantity of caffeine, some sugar, and vitamins. The calories in its aid provide you the power you need to finish your everyday job responsibilities when you’re at your weakest.
Caffeine may help you increase your physical and mental performance while keeping you alert and focused. The spices and sugar together may relax, allowing you to rest your mind and concentrate better.
How Much Sugar Does Thai Iced Coffee have?
Sugar provides a rapid energy boost and a sweet flavor, but it may also contribute to weight gain. Thai Iced Coffee has around 26g of sugar per drink.
This is a pretty large quantity of sugar to take in a single drink daily. The AHA recommends a daily dosage of 25g for women, 36g for men, and 19g for children under six.
You can drink it every day. Keep track of your sugar consumption since the suggested amount is provided to be absorbed throughout the day, including what you eat and drink.
Sugar provides benefits, but it may also pose health concerns if consumed in excess. These dangers include:
- Increased weight;
- Diabetes type 2;
- Appetite for sugar;
- Shifts in mood;
- Jitters;
- Headache;
- Tooth Decay.
So, if you want to prevent health hazards, keep track of your sugar consumption and check the nutritional label of everything you eat.
