Phuket flavors
Cha Yen (Thai Iced Tea)
Thailand's beloved orange iced tea — strong, spiced black tea sweetened with sugar and swirled with condensed and evaporated milk over a tall glass of ice. Creamy, sweet, and reviving in the Andaman heat, the perfect foil to a fiery Southern meal.
About this dish
Cha yen — Thai iced tea — is the country's most recognisable drink, and on Phuket it is the natural companion to the island's fierce Southern food. It begins with cha Thai, a strong black tea blended with spices and flavourings (traditionally including things like star anise, tamarind, and orange-blossom) and steeped dark and robust; this is sweetened heavily with sugar, poured over a tall glass packed with ice, and finished with a swirl of evaporated and sweetened condensed milk that gives the drink its creamy body and characteristic sunset-orange colour. Served everywhere from market carts to Old Town cafés, often in a clear plastic bag with a straw for the road, it is sweet, creamy, and intensely cooling — a deliberate counterweight to the chilli heat of dishes like gaeng tai pla, and a small, perfect everyday pleasure across the island.
Allergen information
Preparation methods may vary by restaurant. Always confirm with staff if you have severe allergies.