FOOD NEWS
The Malaysian Iced Drink That Fuses Coffee And Tea
BY SIMONE GERBER
During the summer months, iced tea or coffee can offer relief from the heat, and Malaysians have combined the two to create ais kopi cham, the ultimate refreshing beverage.
Kopi cham is a blend of kopi — a popular style of coffee sweetened with condensed milk — and tea, creating a cold drink that's bitter, sweet, and creamy all at once.
The drink goes back to the 1800s, when kopitiams, or coffee shops, became hubs for workers and immigrants. Different cultural influences combined to create new dishes and drinks.
You can order kopi cham at shops in Malaysia or at one of the many kopitams opening up in the United States. Remember to say “ais” to signify that you want an iced drink.
To make this drink yourself, brew your tea, add sweetened condensed milk, and stir until fully mixed. Next, add an equal amount of iced coffee as tea to create a one-to-one ratio.
Let the drink cool and serve over ice. Once you get the hang of it, experiment with the types of tea you use to create different flavors, or play with the ratio of tea to coffee.