What to Drink in Thailand: Orange Tea, Oliang Coffee and More

The heat does its job, the drinks do the rest

Thais drink all the time. Between one market and the next, between one temple and the next, there is a stall with a cold cup and a huge bag of ice. The choice is wide, and it is sweeter than most visitors are used to.

Here is a short guide to choosing, ordering and not ending the day with a toothache. At the end there is one tip about water you should not miss, and one about how to ask for less sugar.

Thai iced tea and oliang coffee: the cold classics

Thai iced tea, called cha yen in Thai, is the famous orange tea with milk and condensed milk. It is sweet, rich and easy to love, and you can get it almost anywhere. Think of it as dessert in a glass.

The local iced coffee, oliang, is black coffee served cold, usually with sugar and sometimes a splash of milk. Iced coffee with condensed milk is called kafae yen and is everywhere at street stalls. In cities like Chiang Mai you will also find plenty of cafes that specialize in local northern beans, where you can get a classic espresso without the sugar.

If you do not like sweet drinks, read the ordering section further down.

Coconut water, fruit shakes and herbal drinks

Fresh coconut water is served straight from the nut, sometimes with a spoon to scoop out the flesh afterward, and it refreshes better than any fizzy drink. On hot days it is usually the easy, good-value choice.

Fruit shakes are an institution of their own. You pick a fruit, and the stall blends it with ice, sometimes adding sugar or syrup without asking. Ask for no extra sugar, since the fruit is sweet enough. For more on the fruit itself, see our tropical fruit guide.

There are also traditional herbal drinks such as lemongrass tea, red roselle tea and a blue tea made from butterfly pea flowers. They come hot or cold, and are very sweet unless you say otherwise.

Beer and the evening scene

Beer is part of daily life, and a few well-known local brands are easy to find everywhere, usually very cold and sometimes served with ice in the glass. That is a local habit, not a mistake, and the light beer works well with spicy food.

Note that there are legal limits on selling hours and on certain days, and sometimes on holidays. Check ahead when planning an evening, and drink responsibly, especially if you are about to get on a scooter or go swimming.

If you keep kosher or avoid alcohol, there are plenty of tasty alternatives, and it is worth reading our guide to kosher travel in Thailand.

How to order less sweet, and what about the water

The easiest way to cut sugar is to ask. You can say wan noi, meaning a little sweet, or mai wan, meaning not sweet. Some stalls will make it less sweet, others may surprise you. You can also ask for the syrup on the side.

As for water: tap water is not considered safe for visitors to drink, so buy bottles or use refill stations. Ice at established stalls and restaurants is usually industrially made, but use your judgment and avoid places that look unclean. The details are in our water safety guide.

And if you want ready-made drinks in a carton or bottle, you will find a big selection at 7-Eleven.

Summary: what to order the first time

On day one try Thai iced tea and coconut water, on day two a fruit shake with no sugar, and in the evening a local beer with spicy food. If you are in Bangkok, it is worth combining all of this into a walk between stalls, and you will find ideas for areas in the Bangkok destination page.

And remember: carry bottled water in your bag, and ask for sweetness to match your own taste. After a few days you will find the combination that suits you.