Coffee Drink
Thai Iced Coffee Recipe (Oliang)
Discover how to make authentic Thai iced coffee with a blend of coffee, grains and spices. Learn the recipe and cultural background behind oliang.
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What Is Thai Iced Coffee?
Thai iced coffee (oliang or café yen) is intensely sweet and aromatic. The use of dark roasted beans blended with roasted grains like corn and sesame gives it a nutty, roasty flavor. Generous amounts of sugar and sweetened condensed milk add caramel and vanilla notes. Spices such as cardamom or star anise may be added, lending a subtle warmth. Served over ice, the drink is refreshing yet decadent.
Key Takeaways
- 1Thai iced coffee (oliang or café yen) is intensely sweet and aromatic.
- 2Make oliang mix: Combine 2 tablespoons dark roasted coffee, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon roasted grains (corn, soybeans, rice, and sesame seeds) plus a pinch of ground cardamom.
- 3Roasted-grain blend and topping: oliang is Robusta brewed with roasted corn, soybean and sesame in a 'tungdtom' cloth sock, the source of its smoky depth, then sweetened and finished with a condensed-and-evaporated-milk float. (It's deep brown; the bright-orange drink is Thai iced TEA, a common mix-up.)
Drink Snapshot
- Drink
- Thai Iced Coffee
- Category
- Regional and traditional coffee drinks
- Page role
- Standard Guide
- Page type
- Regional cold drink guide
Flavor and Tasting Notes
Thai iced coffee (oliang or café yen) is intensely sweet and aromatic. The use of dark roasted beans blended with roasted grains like corn and sesame gives it a nutty, roasty flavor. Generous amounts of sugar and sweetened condensed milk add caramel and vanilla notes. Spices such as cardamom or star anise may be added, lending a subtle warmth. Served over ice, the drink is refreshing yet decadent.
Preparation and Recipe
- Make oliang mix: Combine 2 tablespoons dark roasted coffee, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon roasted grains (corn, soybeans, rice, and sesame seeds) plus a pinch of ground cardamom.
- Brew: Place the mixture into a cloth filter sock over a carafe. Pour 250 ml of just-boiled water over the mixture and steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain: Remove the sock and let the brewed liquid cool slightly.
- Assemble: Fill a tall glass with crushed ice. Add 30 ml sweetened condensed milk and 30 ml evaporated milk (or coconut milk). Pour 180 ml of the brewed coffee over the milk and stir.
- Serve: Garnish with a star anise pod or orange peel if desired.
Dialing in and Troubleshooting
- Adjust sweetness by altering the condensed milk; use more evaporated milk for a lighter drink.
- If using a metal or paper filter, reduce steep time to avoid bitterness.
- Pre-brewed oliang concentrate can be stored in the fridge for a few days for quick assembly.
- Omit spices if you prefer a simpler flavor; you can also add a splash of Thai tea for complexity.
History and Culture
Thai iced coffee evolved alongside Thai iced tea as coffee became more accessible in Thailand. Vendors often brew a blend of robusta coffee and grains through a cloth sock, creating a concentrated base called oliang. The drink is sweetened heavily and served over ice to combat the tropical heat. Though similar to Vietnamese cà phê sữa đá, Thai iced coffee reflects Thai street-food culture through the use of spices and aromatic grains.
Editor's Take
Practical Detail
Common Questions
What is Thai iced coffee?
What gives Thai iced coffee its flavor?
Sources and Further Reading
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.orgReference used for drink identity, preparation, taste, or cultural context.
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.orgReference used for drink identity, preparation, taste, or cultural context.