Cheese Tea: Delicious Or Disgusting?

Cheese tea is a drink that combines tea with cheese, milk or cream, and salt. It originated in Taiwan around 2010 and has since spread in popularity throughout Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan. In Asia, cheese tea has been a staple in the food and beverage scene for years. However, it is still working its way towards widespread popularity in the United States and other parts of the world. The drink offers a unique combination of bitter, tangy, salty, and sweet flavours, with a creamy texture. While some may be hesitant to try cheese tea due to its unusual name, those who have tried it claim that it tastes better than it sounds.

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Cheese tea's popularity in Asia

Cheese tea, also known as naigai cha, is a beverage consisting of fruity, layered iced tea topped with a pillow of salted, whipped cream cheese. It is believed to have originated in the night markets of Taiwan around 2010. The original version featured powdered cheese mixed with whipping cream and milk to create a foamy, tangy layer on top of iced green or black tea. It then spread to Guangdong province in China in 2012, where the powdered cheese was replaced with real cream cheese, creating a more premium version of the drink.

Cheese tea has since become popular across Asia, including in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, and Japan. In major cities in China, some tea franchises sell an average of 1,000 cups of cheese tea per day. It has become part of the menu of longstanding tea houses that previously specialised in bubble tea drinks and other desserts. Its popularity in Asia can be attributed to its unique combination of sweet and savoury flavours, with the salty and tangy cheese foam complementing the earthy and floral notes of the tea.

The drink is typically consumed without a straw, sipped from the top of the cup at a 40- to 45-degree angle to ensure that each mouthful contains both the sweet tea and the savoury foam. This method of consumption is integral to enjoying cheese tea fully.

While cheese tea has spread beyond Asia, it has yet to achieve the same level of popularity in Western countries like the United States. The unusual combination of tea and cheese may seem unappealing to some, and it is still working to gain traction in the American market. However, with the growing popularity of Asian desserts in the U.S., cheese tea may be poised to become the next big food trend.

How to make cheese tea

Cheese tea is a unique drink that combines the flavours of tea and cheese. The base is usually black or green tea, hot or cold, and it is topped with a layer of cream cheese that has been whipped into a thick foam and sprinkled with salt.

To make cheese tea, you will need the following ingredients:

• Tea (black or green tea)
• Cream cheese
• Milk or cream
• Salt
• Sugar (optional)

Ingredients:

• Your favourite tea
• Cream cheese
• Milk or cream
• Salt to taste
• Sugar (optional)

Instructions:

• Prepare your favourite tea. This can be hot or cold black or green tea, depending on your preference.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, milk or cream, and sugar (if using) until smooth.
• In another bowl, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip, as this can affect the texture of the foam.
• Combine the cream cheese mixture with the whipped cream until thoroughly mixed and foamy.
• Gradually add salt to taste and gently fold it into the mixture.
• Pour the tea into a cup and top it with a spoonful of the cheese foam.
• Enjoy your cheese tea! Remember to sip it from the top of the cup at a 45-degree angle to get the perfect combination of tea and foam in each sip.

Feel free to experiment with different types of tea, adjust the amount of salt and sugar to your taste, and even try using plant-based milk and cream for a vegan version of this delicious and unique drink.

Cheese tea's nutritional value

Cheese tea is a combination of black or green tea, milk, cream cheese, and salt. The tea can be either hot or cold. The drink is finished with a dash of salt, which illuminates the flavours of earthy tea combined with the briny, sweet foam that has a bit of a savoury edge. The original Taiwanese version of cheese tea featured powdered cheese mixed with whipping cream and milk to get a frothy layer on top of iced tea.

The health benefits of tea are well known. Both green and black tea are rich in antioxidants. Green tea is rich in catechins, a compound that is converted to theaflavins during the oxidation process that turns green tea into black tea. Both types can help halt oxidative damage to cells by binding with free radicals. Multiple studies have shown that regular tea drinking can support a healthy metabolism and weight management and reduce the risk for a number of diseases when included as part of a healthy diet.

However, it is important to be mindful of the amount of fat and calories in a cup of cheese tea. A tablespoon of cream cheese contains about 45 calories, 41 of which come from fat. At 3.5 grams per serving, that tablespoon accounts for 16% of the daily value for saturated fat. Powdered sugar, often incorporated for sweetness and to help the cheese foam maintain its soft and fluffy texture, also adds about 8 grams of simple carbohydrates and a little more than 30 calories per tablespoon. A standard cup of cheese tea could easily have a minimum of 150 calories and roughly 10 grams each of fat and simple sugar.

The nutritional value of cheese tea depends on the ingredients used and the preparation methods. The drink can be made with different types of tea, such as black or green tea, and can be prepared with or without milk. The cheese component can be made with cream cheese or cheese powder, and the amount of sugar and salt added can vary. The nutritional content of cheese tea can also be affected by the addition of other ingredients, such as whipped cream or sweetened condensed milk.

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Where to buy cheese tea

Cheese tea, also known as naigai cha, is a beverage consisting of fruity, layered iced teas topped with a pillow of salted, whipped cream cheese. It originated in Taiwan and was popularized by Hey Tea in China. The drink has since expanded to other regions, including Asia, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

If you're looking to buy cheese tea, there are a few places you can try, depending on your location. Here are some options:

Asia

Cheese tea can be found in various cities across Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. It is especially popular in China, where it was introduced by the chain Hey Tea, which now has numerous outlets throughout the country. In major cities in China, some tea franchises sell an average of 1,000 cups of cheese tea per day. You can also find cheese tea in Taiwan, where it originated in the night markets around 2010.

United States

In the United States, cheese tea has gained prominence in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Pasadena. Here are some specific places to buy cheese tea in the US:

• Little Fluffy Head in Los Angeles
• Motto in Pasadena
• Steap in San Francisco
• Little Uluh in New York
• Debutea in New York
• Heytea in New York

United Kingdom

While specific locations are not mentioned, it is noted that cheese tea has expanded to the United Kingdom. You may be able to find it in specialty drink shops or tea houses.

Australia

Like the United Kingdom, specific locations in Australia are not mentioned. However, cheese tea has made its way to this region, so keep an eye out for specialty drink shops or tea houses that may serve it.

The history of cheese tea

Cheese tea, also known as naigai cha, is a beverage consisting of fruity, layered iced teas topped with a pillow of salted, whipped cream cheese. The original Taiwanese version of cheese tea featured powdered cheese mixed with whipping cream and milk to create a frothy layer on top of iced green or black tea. It is then finished with a dash of salt to illuminate the flavours of the earthy tea combined with the briny, sweet foam.

Cheese tea emerged in Taiwan's night markets around 2010, where vendors created a foamy, tangy topping by blending powdered cheese and salt with whipping cream and milk over cold tea. By 2012, the trend had spread to China's Guangdong province, where the founders of Chinese tea drink chain Hey Tea refined the concept by replacing powdered ingredients with real cream cheese and fresh milk.

Hey Tea is widely recognised for introducing the beverage in China before expanding to other parts of Asia (including Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia), Australia, and the United Kingdom. In major cities in China, some tea franchises sell an average of 1,000 cups of cheese tea per day. The drink is so popular in Japan that Japanese beverage company Kirin plans to create a bottled version.

Today, cheese tea is popular in many parts of Asia and has also gained prominence in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Pasadena. However, in the United States, cheese tea sometimes goes by other names, like "milk cap," "cheese mouse," and "milk foam," and the beverage is still waiting to achieve widespread popularity. The concept of cheese tea sounds unappetising to many Americans, and it is often hard to find in local tea shops. Nevertheless, cheese tea is developing popularity thanks to its addictive flavour combination of bitter, tangy, salty, and sweet.

Frequently asked questions