Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)

Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen) is the definitive non-alcoholic companion to street food, blending strong black tea with star anise and tamarind, then sweetened with condensed milk over crushed ice. Its preparation involves a 10-minute steep with Ceylon tea leaves and ground spices, resulting in a deep amber color and creamy texture. While less dehydrating than beer, its high sugar content places it behind alcoholic options for casual drinking, but its cultural ubiquity and cooling effect earn it the non-alcohol crown.