Beat the summer heat with a delightful and invigorating with this 10-minute Tamarind Iced Tea recipe. This perfect pairing of tamarind and black tea will wake your taste buds and give you a refreshing respite from the scorching sun. Drink it cold or hot!
For added sweetness, use this brown sugar simple syrup or Tom Yum simple syrup for an extra depth of flavor.
This recipe uses tamarind paste, also called tamarind concentrate. Make your own tamarind paste using this recipe, or buy the pre-made concentrate here. To learn more, check out this blog post about tamarind, what it is, its benefits, and its substitutes.
Jump to:
- Thai tea drinks
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- What is Tamarind?
- Ingredients for Tamarind Iced Tea
- How to Make Tamarind Iced Tea
- Garnishing options for Tamarind Iced tea
- Helpful Kitchen Notes and Tips
- Helpful Kitchen Tools for This Recipe
- Variations
- Substitutes
- Storage
- Popular Thai tea drinks
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 10-minutes Tamarind Iced Tea Recipe
- More Thai Recipes with Tamarind You'll Love
- Related Thai Recipes
Thai tea drinks
In Thailand, tamarind-based drinks are popular drink because it's hot and humid all year round. This drink tastes great and has a special flavor from the ripe tamarind seed extract.
Whether hosting a backyard barbecue or simply lounging by the pool, bring a taste of Thailand to your party with this tasty tamarind iced tea. It will be a hit among your family and friends.
You can make this drink in 10 minutes and enjoy it all summer!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's fast! It only takes less than 10 minutes to make the tea! We must dissolve sugar in water, mix in the tamarind, and let it cool before serving!
- Get ready for a burst of flavors! The sweet and sour tamarind blends perfectly with the strong and earthy black tea, creating a drink that will make you want more.
- Stay refreshed with a glass of Tamarind Iced Tea. Take a sip of this energizing beverage to beat the heat and stay cool all season.
- This Tamarind Iced Tea is not just yummy. It's good for you too! It has lots of health benefits. Tamarind has a lot of vitamin C, which helps your immune system and keeps you healthy. It also fights infections because it has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Black tea is good for your heart because it has antioxidants that fight bad stuff in your body.
- You can enjoy this tea, hot or cold, all year long! It tastes great either way.
What is Tamarind?
Tamarind, scientifically known as Tamarindus indica, is a tropical fruit native to Africa but widely used in various cuisines worldwide, especially in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
They are also popular in Indian cuisine for various recipes. It features a hard shell in dried pods that encase a fleshy and tangy pulp, the main ingredient for our Tamarind Iced Tea recipe. The tamarind fruit is delicious and packed with essential nutrients, making it a valuable addition to any diet.
Learn more about tamarind and how it's used in Thai cooking with this helpful blog post.
Ingredients for Tamarind Iced Tea
- Tamarind paste. Also called tamarind concentrate. The paste will serve as the base for our tamarind water, giving the drink a unique flavor with its distinct tangy taste. Make your own tamarind paste using this recipe.
- Black tea bags. The depth of the black tea's flavors complements the tamarind flavor well.
- Water. Prepare your tea and tamarind water using cups of warm water. Adjust the water quantity based on the desired serving size and strength of the brew.
- Sugar. Add a touch of sweetness to balance the tanginess of the tamarind.
- Ice cubes. Using lots of ice cubes is essential to transform your Tamarind Iced Tea into a refreshing and chilled beverage.
How to Make Tamarind Iced Tea
Step 1. On medium heat, combine water and sugar in a medium-stock pot. Whisk often. There is no need to bring it to a boil until the sugar dissolves. Hot water will take longer for your tea to cool. 4-5 minutes.
Step 2. Turn the heat off, then add the tamarind paste to the pot. Whisk well and allow it to cool. Taste and adjust with more sugar or tamarind as needed.
Step 3. Add the tea bags to the pot and let it steep in the warm water. 8-10 minutes. More or less preferred for how long strong you like your tea.
Step 4. Once the tea is cooled enough, add a generous amount of ice to a tall glass, pour in the tea, garnish with your favorite ingredient, and that's it!
Garnishing options for Tamarind Iced tea
Elevate your Tamarind Iced Tea by adding a touch of visual appeal and extra flavor with these garnishing options.
- Fresh mint leaves. Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh mint for a burst of herbal freshness.
- Slices of lime or lemon. Drop in a few lime slices to enhance the citrusy notes and add a vibrant visual element.
- Use edible fruit slices that you may have in your kitchen.
- Use slices of ginger, lemongrass, or kaffir lime leaves for a herbaceous flavor.
- Your garden herbs. Use your garden herbs to jazz the tea: lemon balm, basil, thyme, or rosemary.
- Edible flowers. Lavender, rose petals, pansies, nasturtiums, and many other safe edibles kinds.
Helpful Kitchen Notes and Tips
- Tamarind doesn't need to be heated long since it can release a bitter flavor if heated too long. Do not bring it to a rolling boil. We only need the tamarind and sugar to meld together and then allow it to cool before adding it to the ice to make iced tea. If you want hot tea, bring it to a light boil, and then that's it!
- Adjust the drink's sweetness by adding more or less brown sugar according to your preference. Remember to taste and adjust as needed before chilling the mixture.
- For an extra antioxidant boost, add a stick of cinnamon or a few crushed cardamom pods to the tea mixture while brewing.
Helpful Kitchen Tools for This Recipe
- Stockpot. Use a medium-sized stock pot to make the tea.
- Pitcher or glass carafe. Transfer the prepared Tamarind Iced Tea to a pitcher or glass carafe for easy pouring and serving.
- Tall glasses for your tea.
Variations
Customize your Tamarind Iced Tea by exploring these delightful variations
- Make it caffeine-free with light tea like Ginger tea, chamomile, or Oolong tea works great for this recipe. Green tea is too strong and not recommended.
- Spiced Tamarind Tea. In the cooler months, enhance the complexity of flavors by infusing tamarind tea with warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, or star anise. Simmer the spices in the tea mixture with the sugar before adding the tamarind paste for an aromatic twist.
Substitutes
Sweetener alternatives. Feel free to use alternative sweeteners such as honey, agave syrup, monk fruit sugar, or stevia instead of white sugar. Adjust the amount to taste and dissolve it thoroughly in the tea mixture.
Storage
- Store any leftover Tamarind Iced Tea in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, it is best enjoyed fresh to savor the vibrant flavors and optimal chilliness.
- You can also freeze your leftover tamarind drink in ice cube trays. Once they are frozen, remove the cubes into a glass and let them melt and enjoy!
Popular Thai tea drinks
For more tasty Thai drinks, try these popular recipes
- Thai limeade, Cha Manao
- How to Make Authentic Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)
- Butterfly flower pea tea, น้ำอัญชัน
- Butterfly flower lemonade
- Hibiscus tea recipe
- Spicy tamarind cocktail
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! If you have loose-leaf black tea, you can use a tea infuser or a tea strainer to brew the tea directly in the pot.
Yes! Tamarind Iced Tea offers a refreshing and flavorful alternative to sugary beverages. Its natural tanginess and the option to adjust the sweetness make it a healthier choice for quenching your thirst.
Certainly! Adjust the ingredient quantities based on the number of servings you desire. Keep in mind that the chilling time may vary for larger batches.
Absolutely! The sweetness can be adjusted according to personal preference. Feel free to add more or less sugar.
Yes, tamarind is known to have a mild laxative effect. This is because it contains high amounts of dietary fiber, which can help promote bowel movements and relieve constipation. However, it is important to enjoy tamarind in moderation, as too much consumption may lead to diarrhea or other digestive issues.
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10-minutes Tamarind Iced Tea Recipe
- Total Time: 10
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Beat the summer heat with a delightful and invigorating with this 10-minute Tamarind Iced Tea recipe. This perfect pairing of tamarind and black tea will wake your taste buds and give you a refreshing respite from the scorching sun. Drink it cold or hot!
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup tamarind paste. Also called tamarind concentrate. Make your own tamarind paste or store-bought
- 1 cup sugar.
- 4 Black tea bags
- Ice cubes. As needed.
Instructions
- On medium heat, combine water and sugar in a medium-stock pot. Whisk often. There is no need to bring it to a boil until the sugar dissolves. Hot water will take longer for your tea to cool. 4-5 minutes.
- Turn the heat off, then add the tamarind paste to the pot. Whisk well and allow it to cool. Taste and adjust with more sugar or tamarind as needed.
- Add the tea bags to the pot and let it steep in the warm water. 8-10 minutes. More or less preferred for how long strong you like your tea.
- Once the tea is cooled enough, add a generous amount of ice to a tall glass, pour in the tea, garnish with your favorite ingredient, and that's it!
Notes
- Tamarind doesn't need to be heated long since it can release a bitter flavor if heated too long. Do not bring it to a rolling boil. We only need the tamarind and sugar to meld together and then allow it to cool before adding it to the ice to make iced tea. If you want hot tea, bring it to a light boil, and then that's it!
- Adjust the drink's sweetness by adding more or less brown sugar according to your preference. Remember to taste and adjust as needed before chilling the mixture.
- For an extra antioxidant boost, add a stick of cinnamon or a few crushed cardamom pods to the tea mixture while brewing.
** Thank you so much for visiting my blog! This is truly a passion for me. If you have enjoyed these recipes and appreciate the hard work I put into them, I would love it if you would share them with your friends! Your recommendation is the highest review I could hope for, and I’d appreciate it! **
- Prep Time: 3
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Drinks, easy recipe
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai, Asian
More Thai Recipes with Tamarind You'll Love
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Try these Asian-flavored summer refreshers! Some cocktails while some are not!
Anonymous
i love it. I will try to do that. look so nice, thank you for sharing recipe.
Tim C
This was so easy! We ordered the concentrate and made the tea this weekend. Twice! Hehe! So tasty! Thank you for an easy and tasty drink recipe.
Steph
Truly easy! Made it in no time at all. Have a big pitcher to last for a few days. Perfect for the summer.
Aspen Lee
Super good over ice on a back porch. Flavor was tangy and earthy…I loved it! Mine was with the white sugar but I bet it would be fabulous with honey or agave:). Just feels like you are drinking something good for you!!