Teh Tarik — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Strong black tea whipped with condensed milk by pouring it back and forth between two vessels in a dramatic high arc — producing a frothy, creamy, perfectly sweet tea that is Malaysia's national drink.

Ingredients

3 tbsp strong black tea dust (BOH brand)
2 cups boiling water
4 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
Ice (optional, for iced version)

Instructions

1 Brew tea dust in boiling water for 3-4 minutes to get a very strong, dark tea.
2 Strain the tea into a large metal mug and add condensed milk.
3 Pour the tea from one mug to another in a long, high arc, stretching your arms to full extension.
4 Repeat the pulling motion 5-6 times rapidly — this aerates the tea and creates a thick froth.
5 The tea should have a creamy, foamy top layer. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
6 For iced teh tarik (teh tarik ais), pour over a glass packed with ice.

Did You Know?

Teh tarik making is so revered that Malaysia holds annual teh tarik competitions where contestants are judged on the length of their pour, showmanship, and froth quality.