Unique Iced Tea Culture Around The World – Wellway Tea

The intense heat of the season has drained our creative interest and inspired us to come up with some summer-esque literature. Curiously, we found that most of the countries famous for their iced tea are centered on the South-East Asian Belt. Conclusions from the traditional tea culture of China may be the reason for this different evolution. However, each has its own type of mouth-watering. So sit back, cool yourself down and take a look.

Thai Cha Yen
introducing a delicious offer from the land of hangovers. The end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949 saw an influx of refugees into Thailand. They brought with them elements of Chinese culture, including a rich tea tradition. It led to the evolution of Thailand's unique iced tea or tea yen. The amber-colored mixture of Ceylon or Assam tea with sugar and condensed milk, containing spices like star anise, tamarind and orange blossom, is served on ice in a tall glass. An inviting ombre effect is often created by topping it with evaporated milk. Cha yen is sweet and spicy with a high calorie content that goes beyond its reputation for being incredibly refreshing on hot days.

Taiwanese bubble tea
This Taiwanese treat is a modern undertaking of the Chinese tradition. Bubble tea is based on iced tea (usually black, green, jasmine or oolong) mixed with sugar syrup and powdered milk. It originated in 1988, when Lin Siu Hui, who works at the Chun Shui Tang teahouse, added tapioca balls to her tea from her fan Yuan dessert during a staff meeting. The resulting bubbles led to the naming of the drink and not long ago, Tea House began selling its contingent composition. In the years that followed, Bubble Tea became an international phenomenon, and shops sprang up throughout Asia, Europe, and as far as the United States.

Malaysian Teh Tarik

Black tea, sugar and condensed milk make Malaysia's signature brew. Unique because of the way "teh tarik" or "drawn tea" is mixed. To achieve its distinctly foamy texture, the drink is poured back and forth between the mugs, allowing the liquid to enter the air more frequently as it flows from one glass to another. The creation of Teh Tarik evolved into an art form in its own way. Watching Teh Tarik mingle is like watching an elaborate dance routine where the boiling serves as a partner jumping from one mug to another under the watchful eye of a skilled brewer.

Hong Kong pantyhose tea

Hong Kong is famous for its iced milk tea, known as pantyhose tea or silk stocking tea. The name derives from its color which is similar to nude stockings. It is often brewed in long tea gloves that look like pantyhose. Strong cold black tea is combined with evaporated or condensed milk and served on ice. While traditional tea drinkers lean towards green tea, white tea and strong oxidized black tea, the cheap Ceylon Black Tea is the preferred choice for Hong Kong-style milk tea, a legacy of British colonial rule, usually taken at lunch.

Sweetheart of America: Iced Tea

Iced tea is believed to have originated in the United States. The oldest iced tea recipe in print from a community cookbook called Housekeeping in Old Virginia is from 1879. There are two traditional teas in America; the only difference between them is iced tea and sugary sweet tea. The people of the South are loyal to their sweet iced tea and use it by the gallon. For them, it is not just a summer drink but it is served all year round with meals. Outside the southern state, iced tea is mostly served unsalted or "black".

The lack of added sugar and preservatives makes for a healthy, yet enjoyable experience designed to please tea lovers around the world. After all, one or two iced teas work great to keep summer at bay!