We returned back to Bangkok today after some delicious last few Isaan dishes and mango sticky rice, and while checking back into our same Bangkok hotel, we were greeted with little glasses of the most intriguing iced tea. It was a faint green color, lightly sweetened, and probably one of the best thirst quenchers I’ve ever had. I asked the woman checking us in what this was, and she responded that it was pandan tea made from pandan leaves. It’s a popular tea here in Thailand, and though I have seen and had it in desserts before, I never realized it was actually consumed as a tea. So now it’s my quest to find this tea before we leave Thailand. And so far, I am failing.

I’m guessing the reason no one is selling it in the loose leaf or tea bag format is because locals actually brew the whole fresh leaves, which are easily purchased at fresh produce markets anywhere here. I saw it so many times when browsing markets in both Bangkok and Chiangmai, but not once did I see the leaves in a dried form. A recipe I found online notes that for two cups, you just need four fresh pandan leaves. Where am I going to find fresh pandan leaves in New York City?! I’d never even seen them in Chinatown.

The only dried versions online I could find were on reseller export sites and eBay, so this was clearly marketed toward people outside of Thailand. I guess I will just need to search for it in depth when I return to Manhattan Chinatown.