Most if not all mamak stalls use tea dusts, condensed milk and evaporative mik for teh tarik; tea dusts is cheapest available tea leafs, generally give strong but harsh flavours. Creaminess of teh tarik is from the fat i.e palm oil at mamak stall.

If one is serious with quality teh tarik, should use "strong tea" from marks and Spencer, 35% milk fat cream, whipped and sugar to taste.