Quick Answer
Thai milk tea’s orange color mainly comes from added food coloring, not the natural color of the tea. Thailand’s English-language newspaper The Nation reports that traditional Thai tea used Ceylon tea with a beige-brown color, and producers later added artificial coloring to make the drink more eye-catching, commonly Sunset Yellow FCF. The basic recipe is strongly brewed Ceylon tea or northern Thai Assam tea + sugar + condensed milk + evaporated or whole milk, served over ice. Shops make it two ways: brewing Thai tea leaves or mixing Thai milk tea powder.
Thai Milk Tea Ingredients
Compiled from English Wikipedia’s “Thai tea” and Chinese Wikipedia’s Thai milk tea articles:
| Ingredient | Details |
|---|---|
| Tea base | Strongly brewed Ceylon tea, or Assam tea grown in northern Thailand |
| Sweetness | Sugar, condensed milk |
| Milk | Evaporated milk or whole milk poured on before serving; some versions use coconut milk |
| Ice | Usually served iced |
Wikipedia also notes that Thai tea in Thailand is usually not spiced; the star anise and cardamom common in English-language recipes are mostly foreign adaptations.
Why Is Thai Milk Tea Orange?
According to The Nation (Thai English-language media, August 2025):
- The Ceylon tea used in traditional Thai tea is beige-brown.
- To make the drink look more vivid, producers began adding artificial food coloring to the tea.
- The coloring that creates the orange is commonly Sunset Yellow FCF (known in Taiwan’s regulations as Food Yellow No. 5).
So the orange has nothing directly to do with tea variety or oxidation. Uncolored Thai tea is also available and looks closer to regular milk tea.
Two Ways Shops Make Thai Milk Tea
| Method | Concept | Pros | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewed Thai tea leaves | Brew strong Thai tea, add sugar and condensed milk, then milk and ice | Pronounced tea aroma, adjustable strength | Shops focused on fresh brewing with brewing equipment |
| Thai milk tea powder | Dissolve in hot water per pack ratio, then add ice | Fast, consistent | High-volume shops with limited staff |
Follow each product’s recommended ratio, test in store and write it into your SOP.
Labeling Reminders When Using Coloring
If you use Thai tea leaves or powders with coloring, check:
- The coloring named on the product’s ingredient label.
- The rules on that coloring and its labeling in the country where you sell (they differ by country).
- In Taiwan, chain drink businesses must label sugar, calories, caffeine and tea origin for freshly made drinks; see Taiwan’s Bubble Tea Labeling Rules.
Tang Sugar’s Thai Milk Tea Range
Tang Sugar supplies Thai tea leaves (600g per bag), Thai tea no-filter bags, Thai tea extraction bags, plus Thai tea powder and Thai milk tea powder (1kg per bag), so you can brew or mix depending on your equipment. Request samples.
Products in this article
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FAQ
Why is Thai milk tea orange?
Mainly because of added food coloring. The Nation reports it’s commonly Sunset Yellow FCF; traditional Ceylon tea itself is beige-brown.
What tea is used in Thai milk tea?
According to Wikipedia, strongly brewed Ceylon tea, or Assam tea grown in northern Thailand.
What milk goes in Thai milk tea?
Usually sweetened with sugar and condensed milk, with evaporated or whole milk poured on before serving; some versions use coconut milk.
Is Thai tea spiced?
According to English Wikipedia, Thai tea in Thailand usually isn’t; star anise and cardamom appear mostly in foreign adaptations.
How do bubble tea shops make Thai milk tea?
Either brew strong Thai tea leaves and add sugar, condensed milk, milk and ice, or mix Thai milk tea powder for speed and consistency. Follow pack ratios and test in store before writing them into the SOP.
Where can shops buy Thai tea leaves or Thai milk tea powder?
Wholesale from bubble tea ingredient suppliers. Tang Sugar offers Thai tea leaves (600g bags), no-filter and extraction bags, plus Thai tea powder and Thai milk tea powder (1kg bags).
Further Reading
- What Is Non-Dairy Creamer?
- Taiwan Tea No. 18: Ruby Black Tea
- Taiwan’s Bubble Tea Labeling Rules
- What Is Masala Chai?
- How Long Can Brewed Tea Be Held?
Sources
- Wikipedia: Thai tea
- Wikipedia: Thai milk tea (in Chinese)
- The Nation Thailand (2025-08-10): The Truth You Might Not Know About Thai Tea: The Orange Hue Isn’t Natural
- Tang Sugar product list (March 2026 edition)
