Maneeya Dhammataree

While its roots come from Malay culture,Teh Tarik (literally “pulled” tea), first became a popular beverage in Thailand when residents of Songkhla province's Had Yai district began developing a taste for the frothy, milky brew.

Workers from the south of the country are thought to have developed a taste for the tea after working in restaurants in Malaysia. For a number of years, it remained a somewhat unique and exotic delicacy in the kingdom before spreading to other parts of the country. In the Thai language, the tea is better known as Cha Chak.

An impressive technique
There are several popular stalls serving up cha chak in Bangkok – but here we'll focus on one located near Khao Sarn Road, and another on Petchaburi Road.

The stall on Khao Sarn Road begins serving up cha chak at about 6 pm. It always seems to be popular among tourists, who enjoy the spectacle of seeing the tea being prepared.

You'll find the stall in front of Calzone Pizza if you turn right at the far end of Khao Sarn Road. It's located almost opposite a temple called Wat Chana Songkram, which you can't miss.

Several languages use the word cha for tea, while the word chak refers to the “pulling” technique. The liquid is passed from one container, held up high, into another container, held below, in a single stream. The lower container is then raised up and the liquid is poured back into the original container using the same method. This technique produces the creamy, frothy finished product.

Cheq, a co-owner of the the Khao Sarn Road stall, said that the pulling process, if carried out properly, brings out the creaminess of the milk, blending it perfectly with the tea. The pulling action also helps the tea to cool down naturally so it's a bit easier to drink. There isn't yet a machine that can carry this out so effectively, Cheq said.

Although many cha chak vendors prefer to use tea from Malaysia, Cheq uses Thai tea, insisting that the taste is just as good.

The process begins with brewing up the tea, which is then mixed with evaporated milk. The secret is to not use sugar during this part of the process, according to the expert, as it can make the drink too sweet. At this point, the pulling process can begin.

The process can also be carried out with other drinks that are mixed with milk, such as cocoa (chocolate), coffee, and green tea, and the end result can be served up hot or cold depending on a customer's preference.

Having gained eight years' worth of experience pulling tea, Cheq is happy to entertain the crowd with his skillful pulling techniques. For example, he can use his hands or adjust his posture to pull the tea in some more interesting and unusual positions.

Easily accessible
You won't need to tolerate busy downtown traffic to visit the second cha chak stall we're looking at – it's located just a short walk from the Phaya Thai BTS skytrain station at Petchaburi Soi 7.

Take Exit 1 from the station and then head for the car park of the Phaya Thai Plaza Building. Walk through the car park and then make a left turn at the far end. Continue along this street until you meet the main road, and you'll see the stall located on your right.

From modest origins – starting with just three tables two years ago – this stall has expanded significantly, and it now boasts 15 tables in total.

The stall holder here refers to the brew he serves up slightly differently, calling it Cha Yoke (or “swayed” tea). This vendor uses condensed milk, so the finished product is slightly sweeter than the tea served up at the stall in Khao Sarn Road. It is accompanied by a small pot of plain tea to aid digestion and clear away any aftertaste.

The stall also serves other regular hot and cold drinks, including a local coffee called Oo-Tae. And if you're starting to feel a little hungry or want something to accompany your drink, you can always order up some roti or toast.

The stall is popular among locals who have just finished a meal and, thanks to its location along a pathway, it also offers a great spot from which to watch the world go by. This outlet opens at about 7.30 pm and closes as late as 1 am.

Transport connections:
Bus: Located close to Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, air-conditioned bus numbers 6, 12, 32, 33, 39, 44, 59, 60, 68, 70, 79, 82, 157, 159, 170, 171, 174, 183, 203, 509, 511, 512, 516, and 556 all service the Khao Sarn Road area, where the first stall is located. There are no direct mass transit train stations to this part of the city at present.

Train: As noted already in the article, you can reach the second stall in this review by taking a BTS skytrain to Phaya Thai station.