Nara: Not to bad for Instant
Written: Dec 28 '07 (Updated Feb 06 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive quick fix when you can't have the real thing.
Cons: Hard to find, doesn't taste like the real thing.
The Bottom Line: It tastes pleasant, but not a true Thai tea flavor.
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| LILvoyce's Full Review: Instant Thai Tea |
I was first introduced to Nara Instant Thai Tea Drink with Cream and Sugar in an oriental market. I was trying to duplicate the flavor of Thai Iced tea at my favorite Thai restaurant. This was way before I ever learned how to make it from scratch and brew it myself.
Nara Instant Thai Tea Drink comes with the tea, sugar, and cream all in one. It is similar to what reminds me of single serve hot chocolate packets. These too are instant and you just pour boiling water in a small mug, stir and serve. You can also let it cool and add ice, or add the ice right away. I like to let it cool so you don't lose the flavor.
If I remember correctly I paid $3 for a plastic sealed bag that contains 12-1.23 oz packets. Each packets makes one serving. You can add 4-6 oz of water. 4 ounces makes a real sweet drink, and 6 oz makes it taste a bit better I think.
Nara's Instant Thai Tea tastes only a bit like the real thing, but is so convenient I would be willing to purchase it again. It takes me a while to make real Thai tea. Nara's Instant tea comes in a powder, and after you pour the boiling water on it and stir it, it turns a bright milky orange color.
The taste is very creamy, but what it is lacking is the strong black nutty tea flavor that I have only been able to find by brewing. I can sense a hint of vanilla, but overall it is missing that nutty unique flavor. It is good, don't get me wrong, but I don't consider it to be a taste of a true Thai tea. You can definitely tell a difference.
I prefer a tall glass of Thai tea and if I were to make that with these packets I would need about three packets. So you can see how quickly I go through a box of 12.
Ingredients
Instant thai tea, sugar, non-dairy creamer(glucose, palm kernel oil, casein), artificial color (E110), FD&C Yellow No 6, vanilla flavor added
As I was looking at the ingredients I see that they add a non-dairy creamer. When I make it at home I make it with sweetened condense milk, and sometimes a splash of evaporated. I like to add palm sugar when I can find it available. I have never added vanilla to my tea, but would like to try that, because I did appreciate the vanilla in this instant Nara's. This tea is missing some star anise, or perhaps some cardimom or some sort of POW that you find in other Thai Teas. I don't taste that unique flavor. This tea is very light and well creamed and sweetened. Non dairy cream and sweetened condensed milk have a very different flavor. The instant isn't as thick as the real stuff.
Overall
Overall, I would purchase it again. It is hard to find in the area that I live. I found it three hours away from my home while on a vacation. It tastes really well, but I don't consider it to have a true Thai tea flavor. I would recommend it though because it has a nice taste.
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Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
LILvoyce
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Member: Barbara
Location: FLORIDA
Reviews written: 664
Trusted by: 505 members
About Me:
Its time to find the Healthy Me...... This is my year to do that:-D
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