In the morning or during supper, most people have difficulty in choosing between coffee or tea. This drink may solve that problem. Cham ice is a cold drink that is a combination of coffee and milk tea. It is originated from Hong Kong and can also be called yuen yeung, yinyong or yuan yang. Yuan yang refers to the mandarin duck, which is a Chinese love symbol because they always appear together in a pair despite their different appearance. Thus, this applies to coffee and tea that mix well despite their differences.
Originally, this drink was served only by street hawkers and Kopitiam (local coffee shops). However, it gains popularity that many types of restaurants and franchise selling this drink. Cham ice is a sweet, creamy drink with an extra jolt of caffeine. The combination of coffee and milk tea is usually 7 parts of milk tea to 3 parts coffee. This ratio is supposed to give a balanced flavour of coffee and tea without having one taste overpower the other. However, it can be equal parts of milk tea and coffee, depending on the location and preferences.
Coffee and tea can be prepared separately or together by pouring hot water in a cup, and then it is filtered using a sieve. Besides condensed milk, sweetened creamer and evaporated milk can be used as a substitute. This drink can be served hot or cold, depending on the weather and preferences. Cham drink is quite popular as it is also made into a canned drink that is Wonda Tea Coffee. Besides that, there’s a caffeine-free variant of Yuenyueng made using Horlicks and Ovaltine that is suitable for children.
Ingredients (4 serving):
- 3 cups of hot water
- 3 tbsp of powdered coffee
- 1 tbsp of tea leaves
- 6 tbsp of condensed milk
- 2 cups of ice cube
Directions:
- Mix the coffee and tea together with a cup of hot water. Stir them thoroughly.
- Filter the mixture into a pitcher, and then add the remaining hot water and condensed milk.
- Pour the coffee-tea mixture into a glass filled with ice cubes and enjoy!
