Like many other young Hanoians, my life keeps going with rush and busy, but still, sometimes I would like to stand back, skip things to live slowly in a while, and it could not be perfect without egg coffee, my specialty favored drink.
Many know about sweet Vietnamese slowly dripping into a cup, but what is it egg coffee you ask? Hanoians say that egg coffee and monsoon is a perfect couple here. Egg coffee was born from Hanoi’s winter and only in Hanoi you can find such a tasty and charming drink. Drinking this coffee will ask you certain patience. While water is dripping through roasted ground coffee into a hot cup, egg yolk will be whisked vigorously with a tablespoon of brewed coffee and half a tablespoon of cheese for few minutes until you end up with a frothy, fluffy mixture.
The local coffee maker has been very specific and detailed in choosing ingredients which must be Vietnamese authentic coffee beans of robusta and arabica, with fresh farm chicken eggs that have a big and nutritious yolk to build up delicate texture for this drink. After adding sweetened condensed milk slowly into coffee, creamy foam is poured on top, all resulting in two distinct layers of colors: brown and ivory.
The last step is only to take a sip and enjoy the strong coffee as it transcends through that fluffy mixture, tasting just exquisite. “It is not just about the drink, but also the ambience that enhances its taste” a friend of mine said. Indeed, drinking a cup of egg coffee in the capital city is a cultural experience not found elsewhere.
How is it made? Quite simple, really:
If you're traveling with us to Hanoi, please ask me to take you out for a cup of my favorite treat!
Fiona
