Did you know? – Vietnam is the world’s second largest exporter of coffee
Vietnam is the world’s second largest exporter of coffee (after Brazil).
The International Coffee Organization reports that Vietnam exports around 25 million, 60 kilogram (132 pound) bags of coffee a year, valued, on average, at $3 billion.
The drink is also extremely popular at home, where it was first introduced by French colonists in the 1850s.
For the Vietnamese, coffee provides much more than just a shot of energy — it’s a way of life. Coffee outlets range from hole-in-the-wall counters with plastic stools on the sidewalk, to sleek, contemporary cafes with roasters on the premises.
What’s on the menu?
In Vietnam, you can have a lot more added to your coffee besides milk and sugar. Here are some of the popular concoctions on offer:
Salt coffee
This culinary trick, developed in the historic city of Hue, brings out the sweetness of coffee by adding salt whipped with fermented milk.
Egg coffee
Invented in Hanoi, this dessert-like recipe adds a topping of egg yolks, frothed with condensed milk, to a coffee base.
Coconut coffee
Coffee is blended with coconut milk and ice to create a delicious shake.
Smoothy coffee
Coffee is combined with banana or avocado to produce a smoothie — get your fix of caffeine and vitamins in one tall glass.
Yogurt coffee
Black coffee is drizzled onto Vietnam’s creamy yogurt — another French legacy.
Source: CNN
