Street Food, everywhere..

As promised, here’s a post that is entirely dedicated to the street drinks of Bangkok, Thailand. I did talk in some dept about the good eats you can treat yourself to during your time in Bangkok and Thailand as a whole. But with good food, you really can’t afford (physically) to drink beers every single time you eat! Here are some of the non-alcoholic drinks you must try when you’re in Bangkok.

Number one on the list and something that I had twice a day for three days straight during my latest visit, Thai Milk Tea (Cha Yen). Do not mistaken our version of milk tea with what you can get from your bubble tea shot. Thai Milk Tea is very different from Taiwanese milk tea the vendors do boil the tea leaves right before mixing it with milk and cream. This results in pure aroma of the actual tea and taste stays; nothing is diffused and you don’t feel the taste has filtered. Our milk tea has quite a bold orange color, but when mixed with milk, it’s a nice and delicious looking orange color. It’s absolutely fantastic for the summer. I shouldn't really be using the word summer since Bangkok is hot all year round, other than during the monsoon season. In short, the vendor pours the tea into a glass for mixing, in which about three to four tea spoons of sweetened condensed milk is added and stirred. The vendor may also add a few teaspoons of sugar, but I rather not have that since the condensed milk already has a rich and sweet taste. The vendor will then pour this mixture into a plastic cup of ice, then topped up with some cream. It’s the perfect recipe for happiness. For me, Thai Milk Tea from these street vendors is the definition of happiness.

I expressed my love for Thai Milk Tea and mentioned how I had it twice a day for a period of three days (no, I’m not exaggerating). After those three days, I was mentally sick of Milk Tea, so I opted out for my second favorite drink, Iced Green Tea (Cha Keaw Yen). This is nothing similar to the green tea you would have in Japan or its neighbouring countries. In fact, it is closer to the green tea latte I discussed earlier for Caffe Tiamo. The green tea powder used in Thailand is processed, and thus, not a very healthy option if consumed at a large quantity. It has a really beautiful aroma and you could really taste it when you sip into it. Just like how a vendor would prepare for a cup of Thai Milk Tea, a mixing glass is used to stir the green tea and sweeten condensed milk, and sugar. This is then transferred into a cup, again with ice, then finished off with a topping of cream. I really enjoy this drink but due to the health aspect of it, I really couldn’t afford to have to many of these. But no worries, I still many more alternatives aside from the Thai Milk Tea and the Thai Ice Green Tea.

If you’re a coffee drinker like me but always order a cappuccino or a latte to balance it off with some milk, you’ll thoroughly enjoy a glass of Thai Iced Coffee (Kafe Yen). In essence, Thai coffee powder is used to make a simple black coffee. Again, in a mixing glass, sugar and condensed milk is added to the coffee, giving it a much richer taste than an average milk based coffee. As a result, the cream adds an extra dimension to its aroma and taste, while it’s sweetened by the condensed milk. I usually drink this for breakfast with other Thai morning items, but it would do good for any time of the day. Let the vendor know how much condensed milk or sugar you would like, otherwise they will make it quite sweet. If it does turn out to be too sweet, you could simply add some water to dilute off the sweetness.

If you’ve had a fair share of Thai Milk Tea, Thai Green Tea and Thai Iced Coffee, you could then try a favourite from my childhood, Iced Milo or Iced Ovaltine. I briefly explained in my post for Bangkok Airport Foods that our version of chocolate powder are Milo and Ovaltine. They’re what we would call as Iced Chocolate, but much much better. Both Milo and Ovaltine (just different brands) are much sweeter and way less bitter than Western chocolate powder. The vendor would again make this fresh and mix it in a mixing glass that we’re now so familiar with. You may guess what’s added to the drink: sweeten condensed milk and sugar. This then goes straight into a prepared cup full of ice, then topped up with cream. I really can’t express my appreciation for this drink in words. It is amazing and I could have it everyday. It’s a great reminder of the childhood of the Thais in my generation.

Moving away now from the vendors that are experts in the aforementioned Thai specialities, I will now recommend something else with no sugar, no cream and no sweeten condensed milk. If you’re in Thailand and you don’t drink Fresh Coconut Juice from the actual coconut with a straw, then spoon out to eat its flesh, then you might as well book a ticket back just to have some! Fresh coconut juice is not available through the same street vendors that make your teas and coffees. They’re usually not on the streets since the hot climate of Thailand doesn’t support them to stay fresh all the time. If you do get off at BTS Siam as I had recommended at the beginning, I believe you could find it right where the Restaurant Marina HK is. If I’m not mistaken, there is a juice shop which is a part of the restaurant that stretches out for people to purchase drinks, and my vague memory tells me that they have whole coconuts there. If not, be sure to ask your hotel reception prior to heading out; the locals know best after all!

There is another coconut drink that I know of the location for sure. I’m not too sure what to call this drink, but I would describe it as a blended drink, with the essentials being chunks of coconut flesh, whole milk and coconut juice. These three ingredients sound yummy on its own, but just imagine the power when you combine these three produces in a blender, then add crushed ice. It comes in a plastic bottle of two different sizes, and I strongly recommend that you get the bigger one. It’s not very expensive and every sip grants you instant happiness. This drink has seriously changed my life and I will do everything in my power to go back to the same stall and get the same drink. The stall is located in a smaller street, somewhat hidden in the Siam Square Area. The easiest explanation of where it is exactly is just to take a screenshot of the map for you (thank you Google Maps for once again being a life saver):

If you see Digital Gate World, which is a massive mall for electronics and appliances, get in. Make sure you're on the ground floor then keep walking until you see a glasses/eye clinic on your right hand side. There, there will be a door leading you outside, and there you go, the booth should be there! Go there later in the afternoon since they do have a time they open the stall. I was there early once, hoping that I would avoid the line, to find out there they weren't open yet! I have also posted a blog of another person who also shared the same view for this awesome coconut shake stall in Siam Square, if you’re interested in another good read.

One last ice cold item that I would suggest you try while in Bangkok is actually not a drink, but in fact some delicious ice cream! Alright, how interesting can an ice cream. To avoid disappointment, this ice cream is not like the one at ColdStone where they will smash, prepare, and sing in front of you. And no, it’s not a luxurious Italian gelato. It’s also definitely not one of those fancy liquid nitrogen ice cream with white mist everywhere prepared by people wearing scientific goggles and a lab coat. One of the best ice cream I’ve ever had is here in Bangkok, and they’re everywhere: a classic, Thai coconut ice cream with various toppings. Okay I think I may have disappointed some of you, but keep reading! The coconut ice cream has a real coconut aroma and taste to it. It’s not like the coconut ice cream you’ve had outside of Thailand that merely had drops of coconut essence to give that fake flavor. The real deal is here in Thailand. For a very very cheap price, you get a few scoops of ice cream, either in a plastic cup or a wafer cone. You can then pick your toppings. They usually have various canned fruits, sticky rice, nuts and some times, chocolate sauce and those colour sprinkles that I have no idea what they're call. I like to keep my coconut ice cream simple and classic since it’s already amazingly good on its on. I would at some sticky rice at the bottom, then scoops of glorious ice cream sitting on it, then finished off with lots and lots of peanuts and lots and lots more of milk. This is one of Thailand’s best hidden dessert treasure. The next time you see someone hold something similar to the picture below on the street, ask them where they had gotten it from. Otherwise, chances are quite low that you’ll find vendors on the street. Coconut ice cream vendors are becoming something of a lost gem in my opinion, very unfortunately.

Although I recommended the Thai Milk Tea, Thai Green Tea and Thai Coffee as “iced” beverages, you always have the option to have them hot or cold. I personally enjoy these drinks cold as the climate of Thailand doesn’t go too well with hot drinks.

A good read praising the awesomeness of the coconut shake here.