How it’s made
Lao sweet iced tea — sa yen / cha nom yen — is strong black tea mixed with condensed milk and ice. Street shops brew it hot, sweeten it while warm, then pour it over a full cup of ice. The orange color comes from Thai-style tea mix (black tea + spice + coloring).
One large cup
2 tablespoons Thai/Lao tea mix (or strong black tea)
About 6–8 ounces just-off-boil water
2 tablespoon of Half & Half milk
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Pinch of salt
A full cup of ice
Steps
Pour boiling water over the tea. Steep 5–8 minutes. Strain. Do not squeeze the leaves hard.
While the tea is still warm, stir in condensed milk, evaporated milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
Fill a cup with ice.
Pour the tea over the ice. Lid, straw, done.
Taste: creamy, sweet, a little vanilla-spice. Colder and milkier than plain iced tea.
How it’s made
Lao sweet iced tea — sa yen / cha nom yen — is strong black tea mixed with condensed milk and ice. Street shops brew it hot, sweeten it while warm, then pour it over a full cup of ice. The orange color comes from Thai-style tea mix (black tea + spice + coloring).
One large cup
2 tablespoons Thai/Lao tea mix (or strong black tea)
About 6–8 ounces just-off-boil water
2 tablespoon of Half & Half milk
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Pinch of salt
A full cup of ice
Steps
Pour boiling water over the tea. Steep 5–8 minutes. Strain. Do not squeeze the leaves hard.
While the tea is still warm, stir in condensed milk, evaporated milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
Fill a cup with ice.
Pour the tea over the ice. Lid, straw, done.
Taste: creamy, sweet, a little vanilla-spice. Colder and milkier than plain iced tea.
