Ever wonder what all those colorful drinks are that everyone is sipping on (sometimes from plastic bags) in Thailand? Like food culture, beverage culture is strong in this country, and people love tasty drinks.
If you’re having street food, you’ll likely only get to choose from water and soda. However, if you’re going for an alcoholic beverage, Thai beer can’t be beaten. If you want something without alcohol, here are some of the most popular drinks in Thailand. They tend to be very sweet, so be prepared.
Vendors in Thailand sometimes serve beverages in plastic bags, although you can always ask for a cup if you prefer. Some people find the bags more convenient, especially if carrying multiple drinks. However, it’s much easier to make a big mess with a plastic bag than it is with a cup.
If served a soda in a glass bottle at a restaurant or street stall, you are not supposed to walk away with the bottle. Vendors put deposits down on the glass and ensure they get it back before you leave.
Cha Yen
You may be familiar with this Thai iced tea; it’s the milky, orange drink often served in Thai restaurants worldwide. In the typical Thai iced tea, you’ll find black tea brewed with boiling water using a cloth strainer, plus some sweetened condensed milk, served over ice with sugar and a little evaporated milk on top. The reddish-orange color is now often a product of food coloring, though traditionally it may have come from a natural source. If you prefer your Cha Yen without extra sugar, you can ask for it mai waan, which means “not sweet.” You will still get a little sweetness from the condensed milk, but at least you won’t get the scoop of sugar on top of that.
Cha Manao
If you want iced tea but don’t want all the dairy products typically served with it, you can ask for a cha manao, which translates to “lime tea.” This drink is brewed just like cha yen, but instead of being served with condensed milk, it is served with freshly squeezed lime juice. The default sweetness is quite high, so if you do not want any sugar, ask for it mai waan just as you would with cha yen.
Nam Manao
Nam manao consists of lime juice, water, and sugar served together. Like similar drinks you’ll find in India and other hot climates, it’s a basic, refreshing tropical beverage. If you order a nam manao from a street vendor, it’s likely to be sweetened. However, if you order one at a restaurant, you’ll be served sugar syrup on the side. Nam manao pairs wonderfully with spicy Thai curries.
Manao Soda
This refreshing drink consists of fresh lime juice served with soda water and sugar syrup if desired. It serves as a great substitute for sweetened sodas, and any restaurant in the country will serve this up.
Sweet Sodas
These are typically ordered by indicating the color of the flavor you want mixed with your soda water. For instance, if you want a cherry-flavored soda, you’d order a red soda. The same applies for lime (green) and orange (orange). These beverages are created by mixing colored, flavored syrup into ice and soda water and enjoy popularity, even among adults, in Thailand.
Sweet Flavored Milk
Like sweet colored sodas, these drinks are made by mixing milk, ice, and colored, flavored syrup together. You either love the idea, or it may seem a little unusual!
