12 Unique Asian Drinks to Cross Off Your Foodie Bucket List – TripZilla

While known for a wide variety of tantalising food cooked with flavourful spices, Asian drinks are often underrated. Anyone who has paid a visit to the continent will tell you that it’s home to some of the yummiest beverages in the world.

No meal is complete without a drink, after all! If you’re looking with regard to some of the best drinks that cater to different cravings and preferences, then you’ve come to the right place. From alcohol in order to coffee plus tea, here are 14 unique drinks in Asia to cross off your foodie bucket list.

Also read: fourteen Food Destinations Around the World regarding a Gastronomic Tour

Must-try Asian alcoholic beverages

1. Sake

Kicking off our list, we have one of the most popular drinks in Asia: sake. Dating back towards the third century, this alcohol from Japan is made by brewing yeast, koji mould, water, and polished rice. Since then, the art of brewing sake has been passed down from generation to era, even holding religious plus sentimental value in Japanese culture.

The drink is often served chilled or at room temperature. It is also versatile as a food wine, pairing perfectly with traditional Japan food. For the health-conscious, sake is even known to be one associated with the healthiest drinks on the planet, providing anti-cancer benefits.

Furthermore read: This Is How I Survived Being Lost (and Drunk) in Tokyo

2. Lao-lao

If you’re looking to challenge your taste buds, boy do we now have a drink for you! Produced in Laos, lao-lao is the rice whiskey usually mixed with various ingredients like insects and snakes before being bottled! Give it a shot, you might be surprised by how delicious it is.

Besides being known for its potency, lao-lao reigns supreme as the cheapest grain whiskey on earth! You can easily find bottles of lao-lao sold in small shops across the particular country intended for ₭N6, 000 (~S$0. 75) per seven-litre bottle. Who doesn’t love a wallet-friendly alcoholic drink?

3. Feni

From the city associated with Goa, India, feni is a thrice-distilled traditional liquor consisting of fermented cashew apple juice or fermented toddy (palm wine). Like champagne or tequila, it is a legally-protected product, thus it can’t be produced outside of Goa.

However, unlike most alcohols, feni is distilled to 42. 8% abv, meaning no water will be added to reduce its strength. Make sure you are not driving home!

4. Baijiu

Only for the bravest plus the boldest, baijiu is the strongest alcoholic drink within China. Often mistranslated as “white wine, ” baijiu is a spirit that will can reach up to an impressive 60% abv! That said, this particular infamous beverage is both feared and loved simply by locals plus travellers alike.

Although you might expect a consume with high levels of alcohol to flavor bad, baijiu has a distinct flavour profile. It offers the complex mix of fruit, citrus, floral and umami. Don’t miss out on this must-try potent concoction!

Must-try Asian beverages for coffee lovers

5. Ca phe trung

If espresso and eggs sound such as the perfect start to a day, we’ve got good news for you personally. Vietnam ’s ca phe trung   (more famously known as egg coffee ) features both — in the same cup! It is traditionally prepared by whisking egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk, and robusta coffee. More of a dessert than a coffee, it’s one associated with the best Asian drinks to satisfy your own sugar cravings!

Fun fact: C the phe trung was first created in Hanoi in 1946 due to the particular pressures of a milk shortage caused by the First Indochina War. Hence, eggs were whisked in while a substitute, spawning another unique consume in Asian countries!  

Also read: Hanoi or even Ho Chi Minh: Which City in Vietnam Is Perfect to get You?

6. Kopi luwak

Originating from Indonesia, kopi luwak undoubtedly deserves its reputation as one of the majority of popular beverages in Asia! It is usually a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries that Asian palm civets have consumed and after that defecated. Unlike its production, the result is one of the world’s finest and priciest coffees!

However , travellers should be diligent when sourcing this delicious drink like there have been reports of animal abuse in some espresso plantations. We recommend that you scrutinise the company’s ethical processes and ensure they have certificates of authenticity. With this certificate, the particular beans are usually sourced ethically without contact with the palm civet.

Also go through: 15 Countries With a Coffee Culture Worth Travelling For

7. Dalgonan espresso

If you frequent Instagram or TikTok, chances are you’ll have encountered dalgona coffee. During the pandemic, this particular delectable beverage from South Korea took the internet by storm with its visual aesthetics and delicious taste.  

Named after the South Korean honeycomb snack, the particular drink is definitely made simply by whipping coffee powder, sugars, and hot water until it becomes creamy; this frothy cream is then layered above a cup of dairy. This tasty ambrosial will leave a person craving pertaining to more!

Also read: 15 Unique Cafes inside Seoul meant for Coffee, Brunch, & A lot more!

8. Oliang

Thailand ’s oliang is really a truly unique Asian drink that definitely deserves the spot on our foodie container list. This Thai iced coffee uses robusta coffee beans and numerous seeds plus grains like sesame seeds and cardamom. Sugar or even syrup is usually then put into the drink to balance out the bitter taste of the coffee, creating a perfect blend of flavours.

Order a mug of oliang from street vendors within Thailand and watch them prepare it so fast, you’d think they could do this with their eyes closed!  

Also read: Thai Street Food Guide: twelve Best Things to Eat & What to Expect

Unique tea drinks through Asia to quench your thirst

9. Teh tarik

If you’ve been to Malaysia, odds are you would have tried one of the most well-known Asian drinks: teh tarik. Translated seeing that “pulled green tea, ” this is reputed for being sweet, creamy, and frothy on top. This texture is produced by road vendors skillfully pouring hot milk teas between two mugs repeatedly. It’s quite a sight watching these vendors testing the limit of exactly how high these people can “pull” the herbal tea.

Teh tarik can be served either hot or cold, making it an ideal drink to complement a good meal!

Furthermore read : A Foodie’s Guide to Malaysia: Where plus What to Eat in Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, and Melaka

10. Yuenyeung

Although we’ve placed this particular under the “tea” category, this beverage is a mix of black tea plus brewed espresso. Yuenyeung originated from Hong Kong and rapidly spread to the particular Chinese diaspora in the region. Among Malaysians plus Singaporeans , it’s also known as cham , which means “mixed. ”

Marrying the flavours of tea and coffee creates a harmonious mix along with a rich aroma and taste. Make sure to try out this drink on your next visit to Hong Kong!

11. Ceylon tea

Ceylon tea refers in order to tea created in Sri Lanka. The name “Ceylon” comes from the country’s former name and has continued to be used in the tea trade. This one is a type of black green tea that comes from higher altitude teas gardens located in the centre of the particular island, giving it a rich and complex flavour. Meanwhile, herbal tea leaves grown at lower altitudes are often used in blends while they have a firmer body and strength.

Tea aficionados consider Ceylon tea a “self-drinker, ” meaning it needs additional condiments to enhance its taste. With its distinctive flavours and numerous health benefits, Ceylon tea is one of the many coveted teas in the world!

Also read: ​​ How I Spent My Initial Solo Trip in Sri Lanka

12. Hōjicha

While mostly known designed for their matcha, Japan’s hōjicha should not be overlooked! Made with green tea roasted over high heat, hōjicha has a distinctive reddish-brown colour that will separates it from other teas.  

Hōjicha offers a tasting profile that is earthy plus slightly sweet. Compared to matcha and most some other teas, it contains far less caffeine, making it perfect for a glass of green tea before bed!

Also go through: Everything That Went Wrong During My First Trip to Asia and South Korea

And that wraps up our list of special Asian beverages you must try! Whether you’re in need of a glass associated with alcohol in order to drown your own worries, or even a dose of caffeine to kickstart your day, there’s the little something on this listing for everyone.