Thai Iced Drink Recipes for Summer

You might know Thailand is famous for so many great food recipes but did you know it also has a range of notable drink recipes too? With the sun and high temperatures across the country, it’s no surprise some of Thailand’s most traditional drinks are iced beverages. In this blog, we’ve put together a collection of recipes of Thai drinks that are a must-try to stay cool and refreshed throughout the summer months. They’re easy, delicious and great for all the family including kids. 

Thai Pink Milk (Nom Yen)

Nom Yen is a popular iced drink from Thailand (more commonly known as Thai Pink Milk). This beverage gets its blush pink colour from the famous Thai sala syrup from popular brands such as Hale’s Blue Boy. Thai pink milk can be likened to being a version of strawberry milk/milkshake but with a more ‘grown up’ sweet and more floral taste. It’s super easy to make, deliciously creamy and a great refreshing drink to cool down. 

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp Sala Syrup
• 2 Tbsp Sweet Condensed Milk
• Whole Milk
• Ice Cubes

Method:

1. Add ice ¾ of the way into a drinking glass or mug
2. Follow by adding the sala syrup and sweet condensed milk
3. Stir the ice, syrup and condensed milk together to combine slightly
4. Then, add more ice to fill the glass and add whole milk until full (you can optionally froth the milk)
5. Stir the drink together and enjoy!

Thai Iced Coffee (Oliang)

While you can make a version of Thai iced coffee very similar to the method of making Nom Yem with instant coffee, a true Thai iced coffee uses Oliang. Oliang is Thailand’s very own version of coffee, made from a blend of the robusta species of ground coffee beans, brown sugar, seeds and spices such as cardamom, sesame seeds, soy beans, cinnamon, rice, corn and more! This blend creates a coffee with a unique smoky aroma and taste. Making this coffee from scratch is a labour of love, especially when that’s just one step to making Thai iced coffee. Fortunately, Cofe Oliang has a pre-made Thai coffee syrup blend ready to use in an instant! 

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Oliang Coffee ‘Syrup’ Drink
• 2 Tbsp Sweetened Condensed Milk
• ¼ Cup Evaporated Milk
• Ice Cubes

Method:

1. In a small cup or measuring jug, mix together the sweetened condensed milk with the evaporated milk and set aside.
2. Next, fill your drinking glass with ice and follow with the oliang coffee syrup drink.
3. Pour the milk mixture over the ice and coffee. If desired, stir to blend and enjoy! 

Thai Iced Cocoa (Cocoa Yen)

The chocolate version of Nom Yem, Cocoa Yen, is basically an iced chocolate drink. In Thailand, Cocoa Yen is a popular drink to enjoy on the go to keep cool while commuting, running errands or just strolling around. So if you love chocolate, this drink is the perfect beverage for those of you who want to indulge in the rich chocolate flavours during the warm summer months. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 3 Tbsp Hot Water 
• 250ml Lactasoy Chocolate Soymilk
• 2 Tbsp Sweetened Condensed Milk
• ¼ Cup Evaporated Milk
• Ice Cubes

Method:

1. Mix milks together set aside
2. Mix Cocoa Powder with cold water then mix. Then add hot water and mix again until smooth and dissolved.
3. Add ice to the drinking glass, followed by milk mixture. 
4. Then add Lactasoy chocolate soy milk and gently stir. 
5. Finally, pour the liquid cocoa powder mixture on top and stir gently again before serving. 

Thai Lime Sala Soda

So Thai lime sala soda is something we’ve totally made up, meaning this Isn’t a traditional Thai drink but rather just uses Thai ingredients to create a tasty and refreshing cool beverage. Notably, this recipe uses sala syrup, one of the most well known syrups in Thailand for making Nom Yen as mentioned above. Sala syrup isn’t a one trick pony however, it can be used to create and remix so many drink recipes from cocktails to mocktails and this Lime Sala Soda is just that!

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp Sala Syrup
• ½ Lime Juiced (slice the other half to garnish)
• 1 Cup Soda Water
• Fresh Mint 
• Ice Cubes

Method:

1. In a small separate cup or jug, mix together the sala syrup and lime juice and set aside.
2. In the drinking glass, add the sala syrup mixture followed by a few mint leaves and ice. Then mix gently to increase the volume.
3. Now, add the lime slices to the sides of the glass to garnish.
4. Next, pour the soda water on top then garnish with extra mint and a sliced lime. Enjoy!

Thai Iced Milk Tea (Cha Yen)

Thai iced milk tea is probably one of the most well known and popular iced beverages from Thailand and with good reason. This drink is creamy, deliciously spiced in true Thai nature and of course wonderfully cooling. Much like Thai coffee, with all the right ingredients you can definitely make this from scratch but an easier way to treat your Thai iced milk tea cravings would be to use an authentic ready made blend like Cha Tra Mue’s Thai Tea Mix. 

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp Thai Tea Leaves
• 200ml Hot Water
• 2 Tsp Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 2 Tsp Evaporated Milk
• 1 cup of ice cubes
• Sugar (to taste)

Method:

1. First boil 200ml water in a small saucepan until hot then turn off the heat. Follow by adding the 2 tbsp of Thai tea leaves (and sugar if desired) then stir. Leave to sit for 3-5 minutes. 
2. After 5 minutes, drain the tea into a jug with a fine sieve or strainer. 
3. Now, add ice to your chosen drinking glass followed by the Thai tea. 
4. Follow by adding the sweetened condensed milk along with the evaporated milk, stir until well mixed and enjoy!