Coffee Drink
Oliang Recipe: Thai Black Iced Coffee and Milk Variations
Oliang is Thai sweetened black iced coffee, usually brewed from a roasted coffee-and-grain mix. This home recipe uses 3 level US tbsp of mix, 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) water and 10 g (2½ US tsp) sugar, served over ice. Keep it black for Oliang; evaporated milk makes the variation often called Oliang yok lor.
Drink Snapshot
- Caffeine
- Varies; not measuredCommercial coffee-and-grain mixCoffee proportion, dry dose and extraction determine the brewed caffeine.
- Calories
- 40 kcal from sugar10 g (2½ US tsp) added sugar × 4 kcal per gramSugar is added after straining; the brewed mix contributes its own soluble ingredients.
Serving, sugar and sources
- Serving
- 1 glass: 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) brewing water, 3 level US tbsp mix, 10 g (2½ US tsp) sugar and ice
- Made with
- Strained Thai coffee mix, sugar and ice; no added milk
- Sugar
- 10 g (2½ US tsp) added. From the measured granulated sugar. Total sugar depends on the mix; milk variations change it further.
- Preparation
- About 10 minutes
Pailin’s brewing proportions and the USDA sugar calculation, checked 25 September 2026. See the full calculation or label comparison.
Key Takeaways
- 1Use a labeled Oliang mix for its roasted-grain character. Pure coffee and instant sachets are different starting ingredients.
- 2Steep 3 level US tbsp in 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) hot water for 4–5 minutes, strain and sweeten. Follow package directions when they differ.
- 3The 10 g (2½ US tsp) added sugar contributes about 40 kcal. Serve it black or add evaporated milk for a separate variation.
On This Page18 Sections
Oliang at a Glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Thai spelling | โอเลี้ยง; also written Oleang or Olieng |
| Baseline drink | Sweet black iced coffee, without added milk |
| Main ingredient | Commercial roasted coffee-and-grain mix |
| Brewing | Cloth filter or French press; package directions first |
| Nutrition limit | Added sugar is calculable; caffeine and total calories need product-specific information |
What Is Oliang Coffee?
Oliang belongs to Thailand's older coffee tradition. The dark brew can include roasted corn, soybean or other ingredients alongside coffee. The resulting toasted character makes the powder more than a substitute for ordinary coffee grounds. Adding milk changes the drink, although English menus sometimes call several different preparations “Thai iced coffee.”
For the condensed-and-evaporated-milk preparation, see Thai iced coffee. Here the recipe and nutrition notes refer to the black version.
How to Make Oliang
The brewing proportions follow Pailin Chongchitnant's Thai coffee guide; the measured 10 g (2½ US tsp) sugar is our adjustable home starting point.
Use a clean filter. The filter must sit low enough for the grounds to steep in the water.
Recipe Snapshot
Recipe
Black Oliang With a Measured Sugar Addition
- Makes:
- 1 serving
- Time:
- About 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 level US tbsp commercial Oliang coffee mix
- 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) just-boiled water
- 10 g (2½ US tsp) granulated sugar
- Ice to fill a 400–450 ml (13.5–15.2 US fl oz) serving glass
Equipment
- Cloth coffee filter, heatproof jug, tablespoon, scale, spoon and 400–450 ml (13.5–15.2 US fl oz) glass
Method
- Check the mix label for ingredients, allergens and brewing directions; package instructions take priority.
- Rinse a clean cloth coffee filter with hot water and discard the rinse.
- Put 3 level US tbsp Oliang mix in the filter inside a heatproof jug.
- Pour 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) just-boiled water over the mix, wetting it evenly.
- Steep for 4–5 minutes, unless the package directs otherwise.
- Lift the filter and let it drain without wringing.
- Dissolve 10 g (2½ US tsp) sugar in the hot strained coffee.
- Fill the serving glass with ice, pour in the coffee and stir. Serve black.
Recipe notes
The 10 g (2½ US tsp) added sugar supplies an estimated 40 kcal.
No milk added. A French press can replace the cloth filter.
The recipe makes one glass in about 10 minutes. 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) is the water input, not a promised finished-coffee yield: the wet mix retains some water. Ice then changes the serving volume.
What Is in Oliang Powder?
Look for a brewable coffee mix, then read its ingredient list. Do not assume that a sweetened instant sachet uses the same dose or needs straining.
Pantai's manufacturer listing gives one concrete example: 50% coffee, with corn and soybean. That describes the listed product, not all Oliang. Soybean also matters when choosing a mix for someone with a soy allergy; check the actual package rather than relying on the drink name.
What Public Records Tell Us About the Blend
Swipe to see all columnsScroll to see all columns
| Record | What it says | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Pantai product listing | 50% coffee with corn and soybean | The gram weight of a level tablespoon of the mix |
| Puvipirom and Chaiseri, 2012 | Studied roasted coffee, grains and seeds; experimental blends included brown sugar | A current national recipe or the ingredients in every commercial bag |
The research paper found that roasted non-coffee ingredients contribute aroma. Our comparison of the two records explains why powder identity comes before a calorie or caffeine estimate.
How to Make Oliang Without a Thai Coffee Sock
French Press
Steep the mix in the press, then plunge slowly and decant. This is a practical alternative when a cloth filter is unavailable.
Paper Coffee Filter
Steep in a heatproof jug first, then pass the brew through a suitable paper coffee filter. Fine powder can drain slowly, so avoid filling a small filter to the brim.
Fine-Mesh Strainer
A fine strainer can leave more sediment. Let the brew settle and pour gently, or finish through a coffee filter. Use equipment intended for food; an ordinary fabric item is not a coffee filter.
What Does Oliang Taste Like?
I try Oliang black first to notice the roasted coffee-and-grain flavor. Evaporated milk then gives me a richer, softer version, but it also covers some of those toasted notes; I like knowing which of the two impressions I prefer.
Sweetness comes from what is in the powder and what you add. Brown color or a caramel-like aroma does not tell you its sugar content.
Taste after stirring with ice. If it seems thin, check the dose and dilution before adding sugar; if it seems harsh, shorten contact time or try a different mix.
Oliang Variations
Less-Sweet Oliang
Try 5 g (1¼ US tsp) added sugar instead of 10 g (2½ US tsp). That halves the added-sugar contribution from about 40 to 20 kcal; it does not halve caffeine or all calories in the drink.
Oliang Yok Lor
This milk-finished version, also romanized yok law, adds evaporated milk. The infographic shows the distinction; it does not specify one vendor's milk quantity.
Oliang with Condensed Milk
Condensed milk adds dairy and sweetness together. Reduce the separate sugar and use the bottle or can's nutrition label for the amount you add. This is a milk variation, not the black recipe above.
Hot Black Coffee: O Yua
A related hot black preparation is called O yua. Ask about sweetness when ordering; black coffee does not necessarily mean unsweetened coffee.
Oliang vs. Thai Iced Coffee and Other Drinks
| Drink | Useful distinction |
|---|---|
| Oliang | Thai coffee mix, sugar and ice; black in this recipe |
| Oliang yok lor | Oliang with evaporated milk |
| Creamy Thai iced coffee | Commonly includes condensed and evaporated milk |
| Vietnamese iced coffee | Commonly phin-brewed; the condensed-milk version is cà phê sữa đá |
| Kopi O | Black kopitiam coffee; ordering modifiers specify sugar and ice |
Compare Vietnamese iced coffee and Kopi O for their own ingredients and methods.
Oliang Caffeine
Oliang contains caffeine, but this recipe has no verified milligram amount. A coffee percentage is only part of the calculation. Dry dose, the coffee itself and extraction also matter. A tablespoon of mixed powder is not interchangeable with a tablespoon of pure coffee.
Ice reduces concentration as it melts; it does not remove caffeine from the liquid already brewed. Adding milk likewise does not cancel caffeine. The FDA advises checking product information or asking the manufacturer when a specific amount matters.
Oliang Calories and Sugar
The recipe’s 10 g (2½ US tsp) added sugar supplies an estimated 40 kcal. The table uses the USDA FNIC factor of 4 kcal per gram of carbohydrate for sugar added after straining.
| Added sugar | Estimated calories from that sugar |
|---|---|
| 0 g | 0 kcal added from granulated sugar |
| 5 g (1¼ US tsp) | 20 kcal |
| 10 g (2½ US tsp), this recipe | 40 kcal |
| 15 g (3½ US tsp) | 60 kcal |
The brewed mix can contribute additional soluble material and any sugar already included by its maker. Without a verified brewed-product analysis, 40 kcal is not an estimate of the entire glass.
For a repeatable comparison, keep the mix, weighed dose, water and ice the same, then change only the added sugar. That isolates the one contribution this table actually calculates.
Is Oliang Vegan, Dairy-Free, or Gluten-Free?
This recipe adds no milk. That alone does not certify a bag as dairy-free, vegan or gluten-free. Check the current ingredients, allergen statement and any relevant certification; mixtures and manufacturing conditions vary. Evaporated or condensed milk changes the dairy status immediately.
Oliang Meaning and Pronunciation
The Thai name is โอเลี้ยง. Oh-liang is a rough English guide; Oleang and Olieng are other spellings. Pailin's culinary account explains the name through Teochew words for black and cold.
A Brief History of Oliang
Pailin's account places Oliang within Thailand's older coffee tradition and connects its name with Teochew. The coffee-and-grain blend also has a flavor role: the aroma research found contributions from the roasted ingredients alongside coffee. For the agricultural background, see coffee grown in Thailand.
Troubleshooting Oliang
| Problem | First adjustment |
|---|---|
| Watery | Check the package dose; use solid ice and record how much the brew is diluted |
| Harsh | Reduce steep time within the package guidance; drain without squeezing |
| Gritty | Let sediment settle or use a finer coffee filter |
| Too sweet | Check for sugar in the mix, then reduce the separate addition |
| Musty filter odor | Clean and dry the filter thoroughly; replace it if the odor persists |
Can You Make Oliang Ahead?
Store the dry mix according to its package. If brewing ahead, cool the strained coffee promptly in a clean covered container and refrigerate; add fresh ice at serving. A dairy variation needs particular care. USDA's food-safety guidance gives a two-hour limit out of refrigeration for perishable food, shortened to one hour above 32°C/90°F.
Common Questions
Can I use regular coffee or instant coffee?
Yes, for a different black iced coffee. They do not recreate a mixed powder's roasted-grain character. Follow the instant product's own instructions rather than steeping it as grounds.
Is cardamom required?
No universal ingredient list makes it mandatory. Check the powder before adding spices.
Is it always Robusta?
Do not infer the coffee species from the drink name; the producer must confirm it.
Does black Oliang mean sugar-free?
No. This recipe adds 10 g (2½ US tsp) sugar; request less or none when ordering, and ask whether the base is already sweetened.
Can I make a concentrate?
Yes, but record the recipe and dilution. Calling it a concentrate does not establish its caffeine or nutrition.
Editor's Take
Sources and Further Reading
6 references
External links open in a new tab
Preparation and names
Blend evidence
- Pantai NorasinghOliang Powder MixedOne manufacturer listing: 50% coffee, corn and soybean; actual package takes priority.(opens in a new tab)
- Puvipirom and ChaiseriRoasted grains and seeds in Oleang aroma2012 International Food Research Journal paper; experimental blends are not a universal commercial formula.(opens in a new tab)
Serving calculations
- USDA National Agricultural LibraryFood and Nutrition Information Center4 kcal per gram of carbohydrate used only for the measured added-sugar calculation.(opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationCaffeine variabilityConsumer guidance on finding product-specific caffeine information.(opens in a new tab)