That iconic orange swirl. The creamy sweetness. The subtle spice.
If you’ve ever fallen in love with Thai iced tea at your favorite Thai restaurant, this recipe turns that obsession into ice cream. This Ninja Creami Thai Tea Ice Cream has everything you love: the vibrant color, the cozy spiced tea flavor, and that rich, creamy finish. All in a frozen treat you can make at home.
Thai tea is famous for tasting sweet, creamy, and lightly spiced. That bold orange color comes from the tea mix, and most versions lean on sweetened condensed milk for that classic richness.
Turning it into ice cream takes it to the next level. Once you taste this, it’s hard to go back.
If you love this flavor, also try my Matcha Mochi Ice Cream and Earl Grey Ice Cream!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Thai Tea Ice Cream
- What is Thai Tea? (Cha Yen)
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitution and Additions
- How to Make Thai Tea Ice Cream Recipe in Ninja Creami
- 🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- Flavor Variations to Try
- How to Store Leftovers
- Serving Size
- Tools You’ll Need
- Tips for Success
- Recipe FAQs
- Coffee Lover’s Ninja Creami Ice Creams
- More Ice Cream Flavors Made Using Ninja Creami
- Did you try this recipe?
- Ninja Creami Thai Tea Ice Cream
Why You'll Love This Thai Tea Ice Cream
- Authentic Thai tea flavor - Made with real Thai tea leaves, not artificial flavoring.
- That iconic orange color - Instantly recognizable and Instagram-worthy.
- Rich and creamy - Sweetened condensed milk + half and half = luxurious texture.
- No pudding mix or gums - Just pure, simple ingredients.
- Subtle spice notes - Star anise and vanilla undertones shine through.
- Cheaper than Thai restaurants - One pint costs a fraction of ordering out.
- Customizable - Add boba, adjust sweetness, or make it dairy-free.
What is Thai Tea? (Cha Yen)
Thai tea—called cha yen (ชาเย็น) in Thailand is one of the most beloved beverages in Thai cuisine.
It's made from strongly brewed Ceylon black tea, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk, and served over ice. That distinctive orange-red color comes from spices like star anise and tamarind (plus food coloring in most modern mixes).
Tea drinking arrived in Thailand in the early 1800s, likely influenced by British and Chinese traders. By the 1980s, Thai tea became a street food staple, vendors served it in plastic bags with crushed ice, the perfect cooling drink to balance spicy cuisine.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Half and Half – The perfect balance for a creamy, rich texture.
- Cream Cheese – Just a little helps create a smooth ice cream base.
- Thai Tea Leaves – The key ingredient for that authentic flavor and color.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – Adds the perfect amount of sweetness and creaminess.
Substitution and Additions
- Replace Half & Half → Use whole milk and heavy cream for extra richness.
- Dairy-Free? → Substitute coconut milk for a tropical twist.
- Extra Flavor? → Add a splash of vanilla extract.
- More Spice? → Mix in cinnamon or star anise while steeping.
How to Make Thai Tea Ice Cream Recipe in Ninja Creami
- In a saucepan, heat water until hot but not boiling.
- Add Thai tea leaves and steep.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the tea leaves. Let it cool.
- In a blender, combine: Thai-tea infused water, half and half, cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a Ninja Creami pint container and freeze for 24 hours.
- Place the frozen pint in the Ninja Creami Deluxe. Select Ice Cream mode.
- If too crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and respin until creamy.
- Serve & Enjoy – Scoop into a bowl and dig in!
🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- Boba (tapioca pearls)
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Extra condensed milk drizzle
- Crushed Biscoff cookies
- Toasted almonds or cashews
- Crushed graham crackers
- Chocolate chips
- Honey
- Caramel sauce
- More sweetened condensed milk
Flavor Variations to Try
- Coconut Thai Tea Ice Cream – Use coconut milk for a dairy-free option.
- Chocolate Thai Tea Ice Cream – Add cocoa powder for a chocolaty twist.
- Spiced Thai Tea Ice Cream – Infuse with cardamom and cinnamon.
- Thai Coffee Ice Cream – Replace half the tea with brewed Thai coffee.
- Strawberry Thai Tea Ice Cream – Blend in fresh strawberries.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftovers in the Ninja Creami pint container. Flatten the surface before freezing so when you re-spin, the blade won’t get damaged!
Serving Size
This recipe is made for the Ninja Creami Deluxe, so it makes 4 servings.
Using the standard 16-oz pint? Use two-thirds of all ingredient amounts.
Tools You’ll Need
- Blender: Makes mixing ingredients effortless.
- Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker: The star of the show, perfect for creating creamy, smooth ice cream.
- Ninja Creami Pint Container: Perfect for freezing and processing.
Tips for Success
- Steep the tea long enough. 5-10 minutes minimum. Under-steeping = weak flavor.
- Strain thoroughly. No one wants tea leaves in their ice cream. Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Cool the tea completely. Adding hot tea to cream cheese can cause curdling.
- Don't skip the cream cheese. It's the secret to smooth, scoopable texture.
- Use Ice Cream mode, not Lite Ice Cream. This is a rich base that benefits from the fuller processing.
- Let it soften before spinning. If rock-solid, 5 minutes at room temp helps.
- Respin with half and half if crumbly. 1-2 tablespoons works wonders.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Thai tea contains black tea, which naturally has caffeine.
Thai tea has a rich, spiced flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel.
It’s infused with real Thai tea leaves, giving it a unique, aromatic taste.
In moderation, yes! It has antioxidants but also contains sugar and milk.
No, Thai tea has less caffeine than coffee but still provides a boost.
Coffee Lover’s Ninja Creami Ice Creams
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
More Ice Cream Flavors Made Using Ninja Creami
Did you try this recipe?
Share how it turned out in the comments below, and if you loved it, share it on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram.
Thank you! - Rose
Ninja Creami Thai Tea Ice Cream
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream maker
- 1 Blender
- 1 Fine Mesh strainer
- 1 small pot for heating water
- 24 oz Ninja Creami Pint Container
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Thai Tea Leaves steeped in 1 cups of hot water
- 1 cup Half and Half
- ½ cup Cream Cheese
- ½ cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat water until hot but not boiling.¾ cup Thai Tea Leaves steeped in 1 cups of hot water
- Add Thai tea leaves and steep.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the tea leaves. Let it cool.
- In a blender, combine: Thai-tea infused water, half and half, cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Blend until smooth.1 cup Half and Half, ½ cup Cream Cheese, ½ cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Pour into a Ninja Creami pint container and freeze for 24 hours.
- Place the frozen pint in the Ninja Creami Deluxe. Select Ice Cream mode.
- If too crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and respin until creamy.
- Serve & Enjoy – Scoop into a bowl and dig in!
Notes
- If too crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and respin.
- Let the ice cream sit for a few minutes before scooping.
- Use fresh Thai tea leaves for the best flavor.
- Don’t skip the steeping time—this develops the deep tea flavor.
Rose says
This was such a fun twist on a favorite drink! The Thai tea flavor is spot-on, and it’s so creamy and delicious. I hope you all enjoy it just as much. Let me know if you try it!