Tea is a scented, liquid refreshment drunk by people of the world for thousands of centuries. It first originated in China in the third century AD, by a Chinese physician Hua Tuo.
Later, it spread to Asia and other countries in the world. In the 17th century, it was more popularized in Europe, and drinking tea had become a fashion.
Both milk tea and Thai tea are delectable and well-liked tea drinks, but they are different from one another in terms of taste, preparation, and ingredients. Thai tea is a delicious concoction made with nutritious black tea. Another sweet beverage is milk tea, which mostly contains milk as an ingredient.
Iced milk tea is similar to Thai tea. Usually, it has a lot of coffee creamer and is sweetened with condensed milk. It is not rich enough if you don’t have indigestion after eating it.
A Tea Plant
A tea plant called Camellia sinensis is used in making tea. Tea has different flavors and varies by color and taste.
Black tea is the most famous tea in green, milk tea, oolong, and white tea. Some herbal teas are also famous in drinks but they are not made from the tea plant; they are made from herbs, roots, seeds, or other plant leaves.
Is Tea Beneficial for Health?
If we talk about tea benefits, scientific research shows that tea has numerous health benefits. Tea has caffeine in it, a natural chemical that has benefits when used in a medium quantity.
Tea is rich in antioxidants which stimulate heart health and reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases. Tea consists of two main components, caffeine, and polyphenols.
- Caffeine: A natural chemical found in tea, coffee, soft drinks, and other 60 products. It can raise the effect of heart rate, and central nervous system and can control blood pressure. But if you use it excessively it can be dangerous for your health.
- Polyphenols: It is also a natural chemical that is found in each type of tea whether it is caffeinated or herbal. When the leaves of tea are processed, some of the polyphenols are destroyed that’s why most teas do have not the same benefits as before.
Process of Making Tea
Tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, after collecting the leaves from the plant. After some days when the leaves get dried and their chlorophyll breaks down, the color turns darker and the tannins are released.
In making simple tea, temperature, and heat is given simultaneously. Only black tea is prepared from the actual process of making tea which includes withering, drying, fermentation, and rolling.
However, in other teas, additional processes are included before being sold.
Types of Tea
Tea is of different types according to its taste, color, texture, and health benefits. Some of the common teas are:
- Black tea
- Green tea
- Oolong tea
- Herbal tea
- Milk tea
- Yerba mate and guayusa
- Yellow tea
- Thai tea
Now, let’s learn about Thai and milk tea in detail.
Thai Tea
As the name Thai, Thai tea originated from Thailand. It is commonly known as Thai tea, a drink that is made from strong black tea and some spices like tamarind, cardamom, and star anise.
It can be served both hot or cold. You can make it sweetened by adding sugar, ice, and milk. It is famous in Southern Asia and other countries of the world where Thai food is eaten. But in the Western world, it is less popular.
The Flavor of Thai Tea
The Thai tea flavor is strongly made from Ceylon tea (Indian Assam black tea). It has bright orange color with a slightly sweet taste because of the presence of condensed milk; its flavor can be variable according to the taste you want.
Ingredients of Thai Tea
Thai tea can be prepared with different methods, but the common method comprises the following ingredients:
- Loose black tea leaf (to taste) or 1 teaspoon
- 1 star anise clove
- 1 sliver of vanilla bean
- 1 or 2 cardamom clove
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 1 spoon crushed tamarind
- Condensed milk 2 or 3 tablespoon
- Sugar to taste
- Evaporated milk (to taste)
Method of Making Thai Tea
- Add 2 cups of water to a pan and bring it to a boil.
- Now add all the spices and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- When the mixture gets boiled, add a black tea leaf or tea bag, remove the pan from heat, and steep for 3-4 minutes for a lighter color. But for stronger color and taste steep for 6 to 8 minutes respectively.
- Now strain the mixture and add sugar and milk to your taste.
- Pour the mixture into the large glass; add ice and evaporated milk until the glass is filled.
Enjoy the Thai drink with all of its indulgences.
Is Thai Tea Beneficial?
Thai tea is the famous beverage of black tea usually served as hot in the morning and cold in the evening. As the tea has polyphenols and caffeine in it. A glass of 8 ounces has 50 to 60 mg of caffeine in it.
This tea is a great source of protein, fat, and antioxidants. Depending upon your taste, this drink has different herbs which are also beneficial for health. Thai tea has a crucial amount of calcium and different vitamins like vitamins A and D.
Some of the health benefits of Thai tea include the following:
- It controls the body’s cholesterol level.
- It has antioxidant which gives anti-cancer properties.
- It can help in weight loss and stress management.
- Its caffeine radical may help to boost metabolism and energy level.
- Black tea is good for heart health as well, which can protect from heart attack and stroke.
- Thai tea has different herbs in it; these herbs can prevent asthma attacks and seasonal coughs.
Thai Tea Nutritional Facts
According to scientific research, an 8-ounce glass of the drink has 154 calories with an adequate amount of sugar and milk in it.
Additional nutrients include the following:
- Protein 1gm
- Carbohydrates 31-35 gm
- Sodium 64.8 mg
- Sugar 24 gms
- Fat 2.8 gms
- Fiber 1 gm
- Iron 2%- 3%
- Calcium 6%
- Caffeine 50-60 mg
- Polyphenols 30-40 mg
Caffeine and polyphenols naturally arise in tea leaves; they are brain-boosting elements that improve performance when consumed in an average amount in your daily routine.
Milk Tea
Milk tea commonly known as “chai” in Asian countries is a famous drink all over the continent. It can be made by different methods depending on the region and taste. But in India and other nearer countries, milk tea is more famous for breakfast and snack time.
Milk tea is simple milk with any kind of tea and sugar. You can simply add brown sugar instead of simple sugar, half milk with half water, and black tea powder to make the creamy smooth texture of milk tea.
Milk tea is also common in England, Canada, Scotland, and Srilanka.
Flavors of Milk Tea
When talking about the flavor of common milk tea, is sweet and has mix taste of milk and tea which is refreshing and gives a calming effect. But when it comes to other milk teas which add different herbs, definitely their taste will be different from simple milk tea.
Ingredients of Milk tea
In different regions, milk tea can be prepared by different methods or with different ingredients. Here is the recipe for simple milk tea:
- Milk ½ cup
- Black tea 2 teaspoon
- Sugar 1 tablespoon or to taste
- Water ½ cup
Method of Making Milk Tea
- Take half a cup of water in a pan.
- Add black tea and sugar to it. For a further 5 to 6 minutes, let it boil.
- Now add half a cup of milk in it and let it cook until its color changes or bubble arise.
- Turn off the flame and stir the tea in serving cups.
Is Milk Tea Beneficial for Health?
Milk tea is a well-known drink all over the world and has many health benefits. Black tea has caffeine and polyphenols in it but another plant compound called theaflavins is also present in it. Because of this compound milk tea is more beneficial.
This plant compound is antioxidant by nature and has anticancer effects and also reduced cholesterol levels. However, milk is also a great source of nutrients like calcium, potassium, and other vitamins which help in making bones strong.
Some prominent advantages of drinking milk tea are as follows:
- Milk tea is a good source of calcium which is important for bones.
- It has vitamin D, also beneficial for calcium absorption in bones.
- Tea makes your mood refreshing and gives you a calming effect that helps improve memory.
- It gives your skin a shine, due to the presence of polyphenols. It can prevent the skin from aging and wrinkles.
Nutritional Value of Milk Tea
1 cup of milk tea per serving has 74 calories. Other nutrients include:
- Sodium: 42mg
- Saturated fat: 1.8 g
- Total carbohydrate: 8.4 g
- Protein: 3.1 g
- Potassium: 158.7 mg
Caffeine and polyphenols are also present in milk tea which is a natural source in all types of tea.
Difference Between Thai Tea and Milk Tea
| Features | Thai Tea | Milk Tea |
| Famous Region/ Origin | Thailand, Japan | Taiwan |
| Ingredients | Creamy texture with a soothing look | Black tea, full cream milk, sugar, and water |
| Color | Bright orange | Pale brownish |
| Texture | Creamy bubble texture with chilled ice when drinking cold. | Sweet flavor with a taste of black tea. |
| Flavor | Sweet flavor with taste of black tea. | Complex flavor because of the addition of spices |
| Caffeine % | 50-60 mg | 150-155 mg |
How Much Tea We Should Consume a Day?
A normal healthy person can take 3 to 4 cups of tea in his/her daily diet. But some people can face problems due to the excessive daily intake of the drink.
As all types of tea have caffeine and tannins in them. So, try not to exceed 3 to 4 cups in your diet.
Taking a cup or 2 is healthy, but if you depend on tea to hydrate your body instead of water, it is not a good habit. According to the health care provider, an adult should only take around 6-8 gm of tea per day.
Excessive Use of Tea
Tea has many benefits for health and the human brain but when it uses excessively it may be harmful to health and the body.
Tea addiction could lead to pessimistic effects such as nausea, dehydration, poor sleep, and heartburn. Excessive caffeine consumption may also conduct irritability, restlessness, and fatigue.
Does Thai Tea Taste Like Milk Tea?
The quality of the tea, the amount of milk used, and the spices used all affect how Thai milk tea tastes. Generally, black tea gives this beverage a strong, earthy flavor with overtones of cardamom, star anise, and cinnamon. With milk, sugar, and boba, it becomes creamy and chewy.
Why is Thai Milk Tea so Orange?
Thai Tea mix can contain food coloring added to the black tea, giving Thai Iced Tea a distinct and vivid color. Although the freshly brewed tea is dark red on its own, it becomes orange when you add milk.
Conclusion
- After learning about both drinks I can say both beverages can give soothing effects on mood.
- Both drinks have differences in color, taste, texture, and nutrients.
- There are so many other types of tea known to be famous, you can also give them a try.
- At last, you need to rehydrate your body with a daily intake of 1.6L of fluid whether it should be water or tea, or any other drink; but make sure not to exceed more than 600ml of tea.