Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Drinks
Coffee, Tea & Fruit Drinks
Thais are big coffee drinkers, and good-quality arabica and robusta are cultivated in the
hilly areas of northern and southern Thailand. The traditional filtering system is nothing
more than a narrow cloth bag attached to a steel handle. This type of coffee is served in a
glass, mixed with sugar and sweetened with condensed milk - if you don't want either, be
sure to specify
gah·faa dam
(black coffee) followed with
mâi sài nám·đahn
(without sug-
ar).
Black tea, both local and imported, is available at the same places that serve real coffee.
Chah tai,
Thai-style tea, derives its characteristic orange-red colour from ground tamarind
seed added after curing.
Fruit drinks appear all over Thailand and are an excellent way to rehydrate after water
becomes unpalatable. Most
nám pŏn·lá·mái
(fruit juices) are served with a touch of sugar
and salt and a whole lot of ice. Many foreigners object to the salt, but it serves a metabolic
role in helping the body to cope with tropical temperatures.
COFFEE, SOUTHERN STYLE
In virtually every town or city in southern Thailand, you'll find numerous old-world cafes known to locals as
ráhn
goh·Ъée
. The shops are almost exclusively owned by Thais of Chinese origin, and often seem suspended in time,
typically sporting the same decor and menu for decades. Characteristics of
ráhn goh·Ъée
include marble-topped
tables, antique mugs and dishes, and an almost exclusively male clientele that also seems not to have budged since
opening day. Some of the most atmospheric
ráhn goh·Ъée
in Thailand can be found in the town of Trang.
The beans used at
ráhn goh·Ъée
are sometimes grown abroad, but are roasted domestically. Atlhough the beans
are as black as the night, the drink typically tends to lack body. This may be due to the brewing method, which in-
volves pouring hot water through a wind-socklike piece of cloth that holds the loose grounds. Typically,
ráhn
goh·Ъée
is served over a dollop of sweetened condensed milk and a tablespoon (or more) of sugar in small,
handleless glasses. For those lacking a sweet tooth, try
goh·Ъée or
(black coffee), or just ask them to hold the sug-
ar. All hot coffee drinks are served with a 'chaser' of weak green tea.
Ráhn goh·Ъée
are also a great place for a quick bite. Upon arriving at the more traditional ones, you'll be
greeted by a tray of steamed Chinese buns, sweet snacks such as sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf, or baked
goods.
