Where to find the 5 best Asian milk teas in Hong Kong
Fancy a cha yen poured directly over ice? Or what about an iconic milk tea in Mong Kok? Here are 5 Asian milk teas for the perfect summer cuppa
Is your Asian tea game strong? Do you know the difference between a cuppa from the Indian subcontinent and the one next door? Is it authentic to sweeten your milk tea with syrup, condensed milk or coconut sugar – or all of the above?
Tea lovers, unite! We’ve rounded up the five best milk teas in Asia – what they are, how they’re made, and where to find them in Hong Kong, so you can score yourself the most delicious cup for a summer afternoon. Make sure you chai them all.
5. Cha yen
Origin: Thailand
Tea: Ceylon or a local Assam variety called bai miang (street stalls in Thailand tend to use the Cha Tra Mue brand)
Milk: condensed, evaporated, coconut or whole
Sweetener: usually from condensed milk or syrup
Other ingredients: different varieties of cha yen include spices like star anise or crushed tamarind seed, as well as red food colouring for that stand-out orange hue.
Signature technique: the process for cha yen is relatively unfussy – it is often served chilled and poured directly over ice.