Most westerners find "particles," of anything in their drinks to be off-putting. Indeed, I even know of people who purchase Tropicana smooth because they fear the natural orange pieces in the drink! (they are the weirdos I say)
However, in the colonnial spice town of Melaka, Malaysia, they seem to have gone a step further with the pieces. Even I thought this was odd!
My first encounter with "particulate - enhancement," was when I drank birds nest (bird spit to be precise) and fungus drink in Vietnam. It tasted like cold milky tea with pieces of slimy vermicelli. Not that pleasant.
When I arrived in Melaka I was keen to try the fabled hybrid food and drinks too. "What drink would you recommend," I asked the pretty doll-like girl in long, silky, traditional dress.
"Sir, for you, please try, Es Cendol Kelapa Muda."
Without hesitation and only half glancing at the picture I agreed. It actually sounded Mexican! Maybe there was a twist of Tequila?
As my lunch of coconut steamed rice and curried chicken arrived a large glass of murky liquid was plonked to my right. A frothy beige scum had accumulated on the surface and a gigantic pink straw protruded from within.
Looking down the side of the glass I observed many unidentifiable objects moving in the foggy liquid. Examining closely for a few minutes I tried to decide if the waitress had accidently brought the restaurant fish tank instead of my drink.
There were translucent green, jelly-like worms bobbing around, dark red oval shapes near the base of the glass and other longer white things wallowing in the strange watery fluid.
Thirsty after 5 hours on a bus, I supped hard through the cannon of a straw. In a powerful transition one of the objects (which turned out to be a red bean) shot up the straw like a bullet and lodged in the back of my oesophagus.
I momentarily choked. For a second my legs kicked out noisily catching the aluminium chair opposite. Out of the corner of my eye I watched two concerned waitresses move in. They were ready to perform the Heimlich manouvere.
Suddenly, I swallowed the damn thing. What relief.
After an embarrassing patting on the back (in front of bemused local diners), the witress explained the contents of my drink.
There were stewed red beans and large pieces of young coconut. The green worms are made of pea flour and are known as, "cendol." The liquid was also derived from young coconut water mixed with coconut milk which had separated forming a froth.
I can describle the flavour of the liquid as being malty with sweet coconut. Nothing offesnsive.
Drinking the pieces through a straw however, was akin to drinking cold minestrone soup.
An innoccent drink with near fatal consequences!!!
So watch out drinkers. Starbucks have just launched a Java Banana Frappe which has chocolate and banana pieces. Be warned.............
Notes
Es Cendol Kelapa Muda
Cendo- flower
Kelapa - coconut
Muda - young
