In Vietnam, tea and coffee are the two main beverages. And these two drinks are inseparable from two countries, that is, China and France.
Today, let's talk about the things behind the two major drinks in Vietnam~
Vietnam's tea culture originated in China.
More strictly speaking, Vietnamese tea culture is related to Buddhist culture, which first spread from temples to the Vietnamese royal family, and was loved by the royal family and nobility.
Later, ordinary people also began to drink tea, of course, the tea they drank was not so delicate, and the tea leaves picked were washed and boiled, and they could be drunk.
Traditionally, Vietnamese elderly people have the habit of drinking tea every day. Their day begins with tea, and tea is also drunk after meals, especially after dinner, when the family gathers to drink tea and chat.
Now, tea is not only part of the daily life of Vietnamese, but also an important part of the country's history and economy.
Vietnamese tea is mainly composed of tea leaves and water, and the type of tea depends on the different tea leaves. Common teas in Vietnam include green tea, oolong tea, flower tea, etc.
In addition to traditional tea, young people on the streets of Vietnam also like to drink iced tea with ice cubes, lemon and sugar.
Then talk about coffee.
Vietnam is the third coffee producer in the world after Brazil and Colombia. So, people who like coffee will not be disappointed when they go to Vietnam.
In 1857, French missionaries brought coffee to Vietnam, and the first coffee was planted in Ninh Binh, Thanh Ha and Bac An provinces.
Later, after a period of research, the red soil in central Vietnam such as Lam Dong, Dalat, Donong, and Pulaigu was the most suitable for growing coffee.
Originally, coffee was enjoyed by Vietnamese high-ranking officials and wealthy people. It was not until coffee production increased that it became widespread. The main coffee beans grown in Vietnam are Arabica and Robusta. Coffee brings a lot of foreign exchange earnings to Vietnam's national economy.
Overall, Vietnam's coffee style is similar to French coffee, but the French usually drink coffee after waking up, while Vietnamese people can drink coffee at any time of the day.
The style and taste of coffee varies from region to region. For example, South Vietnamese prefer iced coffee, North Vietnamese prefer strong coffee, and some prefer coffee with sweetened condensed milk.
Most Vietnamese prefer filter coffee. Moisten the coffee powder with boiling water first, then pour boiling water over it and wait for each drop of coffee to filter into the cup. Local coffee lovers enjoyed the feeling of coffee dripping.
In Vietnam, there are not only a variety of coffee, but also many different styles of cafes, both in the city and in the countryside.
There are many small cafes along the sidewalks of the city, and people drink coffee on the side of the road, untouched by passing cars.
Since 2000, Vietnamese cafes have changed dramatically. Some of the old cafes have disappeared, and some cafes like Internet cafes have appeared, which are much better and have free Wi-Fi and background music.
When the Vietnamese say go "Di Ca Phe (go coffee)", it means to drink coffee, meet friends, work or relax.
Whether it is tea or coffee, it has surpassed its own meaning and has become an indispensable way of daily life for Vietnamese people.
What is your opinion on this? Have you ever had Vietnamese tea or coffee?