Joanna James
While there is plenty of variety and exotic flavours to savour when it comes to Thai food, don't forget there is much to enjoy in terms of drinks too! Here are some top choices worth trying the next time you plan a trip to Thailand.
Tea connoisseurs or those who just love this beverage, be it hot or iced varieties, have much to look forward to when in Thailand. Freshly made herbal Thai lemon tea and Thai milk tea are both worth trying and will help you feel refreshed after a long day out. Not to be missed is what is known as "cha yen", the name given for Thai iced tea; usually made from Bai Miang or Ceylon black tea, this drink has condensed milk, ice and sugar mixed in to create a yummy concoction. Some varieties include the addition of crushed tamarind, cardamom and star anise for a truly unique flavour.
Thailand caters to "coffeeholics" too who can enjoy some "oliang", the name given for a sweet black iced coffee drink! The beverage's name has Chinese origins and is a local favourite especially when something iced and sweet is needed to beat the heat. This Thai iced coffee is brewed in a special manner and is generally mixed with ice cubes and condensed milk, sometimes topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as well.
Those craving something a bit "stronger" can look to try Thai sabai be it while enjoying a night out on the town or a relaxed drink at a Bangkok city view hotel. In Thai, the word "sabai" in fact, means "cosy" and this cocktail which is made with Thai rum will indeed get you into a relaxed state! Bars in the Thai capital, as well as hotels such as Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok, are amongst the places you can savour this drink. Traditionally, apart from the rum, it contains lime juice, soda water, sugar syrup and Thai basil leaves.
For a more naturally revitalising drink, you can try some coconut water. Cheap and thirst-quenching, it is the liquid found within green coconuts that can be drunk straight out of the fruit! Some vendors will cut the coconut open right in front of you, while others may have the liquid ready in containers that they will scoop out into a cup. Apart from being refreshing, coconut water is also believed to have electrolytes and minerals which provide your body with some much-needed hydration. Depending on the vendor, your drink can also get a delightful add-on; juicy shavings of the coconut!
Thais seem to love fresh juices and with fruits being readily available, travellers can sample different varieties too. Amongst the juices you can try are orange, pineapple, guava, watermelon, mango, pomegranate and lime which are on offer (depending on the season) at hotels, restaurants and street-side vendors. A non-fruit drink worth savouring is sugarcane juice; made from natural sugarcane, this decidedly sweet drink has a strong flavour and is bound to give you a sugar high too!
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