Coffee around the World: Black Tie
What if your love for coffee and tea is almost equal? Can’t decide between the caffeine boost or soothing brew?
Why should we have to choose between the two of the most popular drinks in the world? What if we combined them into a hybrid chilled drink that refreshes and boosts our energy levels?
Coming straight out of Thailand, the Black Tie might be just what those indecisive drinkers have been looking for without ever realising…
A sweet beverage that fuses the dark, bitter taste of coffee with the fruity and light tea that we are used to, meaning that drinkers get a different and unique taste with every sip.
When served the Black Tie has a series of distinct layers that ‘hold’ these unique flavours in place, sometimes it’s sweet, sometimes dark and tasty.
What actually makes a Black Tie?
The trick to making the best Black Tie, is to use Thai tea. Not the ordinary black tea that we all know and love here in the UK.
Thai tea is available in a wide number of places now, including health food shops and even online retail giant Amazon.
A lot more than simply tea leaves, Thai tea comes combined with distinct spices, flavours and colours added. You’ll find notes of vanilla, anise and cardamom in most blends, with variations with each brand or blend available.
Be careful making Thai tea though, it often contains food colouring which can leave some very noticeable orange stains on white surfaces and fabrics.
For those wanting a list, you’ll need:
- 25 ml espresso
- 50 ml boiling or hot water
- 1 tablespoon Thai Tea
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- 2 tablespoons of cream or half & half milk
- 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
- ice cubes
Add tea and sugar to boiling water and leave to steep for about 3 to 5 minutes.
Prepare one shot of espresso, before adding to a tall glass filled with ice and 1 tablespoon of condensed milk.
Strain the tea mixture and pour into the glass, before topping the concoction with 2 tablespoons of cream, milk or half & half milk.
Give the mix a stir, serve and enjoy!
Perfect as a cooler, and just as tasty in the colder months, this is a perfect example of Thailand’s coffee-tea fusion phenomenon and of course we can only support that!