Thai Iced Tea

Thai iced tea is one of the first things people fall in love with when dining at a typical Thai restaurant. It is a native-grown red-leafed tea which is spiced with star anise seed. It is usually brewed strong and then blended with a rich swirl of evaporated milk. Delicious!

6 cups water
1 cup Thai tea (cha Thai)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 can evaporated milk

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the tea and remove the pan from heat. Stir to submerge all the tea leaves in the water. Steep for about 5 minutes. Pour the brew through a coffee filter or a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir to dissolve. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve: Fill tall glasses with crushed ice. Add enough of the tea to fill the glasses to within 1 inch from the top. Then float 3 to 4 tablespoons of evaporated milk over the ice in each glass.