Thai Iced Lemon Tea Recipe – Thai Iced Lime Tea – Cha Manao

Thai Iced Lemon Tea is really Thai Iced Lime Tea because limes are plentiful in Thailand. You can use lemon or limes – the taste will differ slightly but either way, you’ll end up with a super refreshing drink for those long summer days.

It’s pretty hot in Thailand so iced drinks are a big thing. We also like our drinks sweet and as cold as possible. No moaning here about cups being full of ice and little drink – we just use bigger cups!

If you walk down the road in any big city in Thailand you’ll find drinks vendors at the roadside selling iced drinks from Thai milk tea to Thai matcha tea, tea with boba added and big straws as well as all manner of coffees (usually brewed with Nescafe).

Thai tea mixes for various drinks including ‘cha manao yen’ which is the Thai for iced Lime tea which translates to iced lemon tea in the West because lemons are as plentiful there as limes are here.

If you are out and about then a Thai tea mix will likely be used but if you are at home then nothing beats the taste of a great cup of well-brewed premium tea with a little lime juice to zing it up.

You’ll need some sugar to take the edge off and provide a nice balance and you’ll be getting some immune boosting vitamin C from the fresh lime/lemon juice.

Just four ingredients needed – tea, hot water, ice & lime juice (or lemon juice if it’s handier).

It’s really easy to make and the taste is just so much better than Thai iced tea made with a packet tea mix.

Step by Step Notes

Step 1 – Brewing the Tea

The tea needs to be brewed strong because the finished brew will be added to ice when hot which will dilute it. So allow for that when you assess how much tea to use.

You can use any straightforward tea you prefer. Black tea makes quite a strong brew, green tea has lots of health benefits but is a little weaker.

Avoid flavored teas though as they will likely not go so well with the citrus taste. Teabags can also be used but loose leaf tea definitely has the edge.

Step 2 – Sugar

Mix the sugar with a little warm water to dissolve it quickly.

it is better to sweeten after you add the lime or lemon juice unless you have made the recipe several times already and know how much to use for your taste.

If you add the sugar after the tea is cooled it’s a bit difficult to dissolve.

Step 3 – Ice

You need to use an oversized cup and add plenty of ice.

The ice needs to cool down the hot tea as you want to drink it quickly, then it needs to cool the drink more to make it ice cold. Obviously it will melt a bit when you add the tea which will water it down a bit – hence making the tea quite strong to start with.

Step 4 – Lime Juice

Use lemon or lime juice and see which you prefer. There is a difference in the taste which is noticeable but both are equally nice we think.

Adjust the lime juice for a pleasant balance with the strength of the tea before sweetening.

Step 5 – Sweetening

Sweeten with the sugar syrup to taste. The sugar will help take the edge off the sharpness of the lemon or lime juice and make your drink just perfect.

Make this iced cold drink for hot summer days for a refreshing drink all the family can enjoy.

Thai Iced Lemon Tea / Thai Iced Lime Tea Recipe