John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had while
on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an authentic
American diner. When the server came to our table John ordered coffee
(intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at me and asked if I
wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee. John said it's because I
look "British". Don't Brits drink coffee in the morning?

Jill

> John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had while
> on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an authentic
> American diner. When the server came to our table John ordered coffee
> (intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at me and asked if I
> wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee. John said it's because
I
> look "British". Don't Brits drink coffee in the morning?
>
> Jill
>
As a Texan who's been to the UK a number of times we never had any trouble
getting our morning fix of coffee there so I would assume Brits do drink it
in the morning as well as tea.

One thing we couldn't seem to get away from while visiting was hard-cooked
eggs (or hard boiled if you prefer). When we were in Manchester we stayed
at a hotel where room service breakfast was included with the cost of hotel
room and no matter what we checked off on the menu here came the hard-cooked
eggs. Why I don't know.

Chris

"jmcquown" wrote

> John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had while
> on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an authentic
> American diner. When the server came to our table John ordered coffee
> (intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at me and asked if I
> wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee. John said it's because
> I
> look "British". Don't Brits drink coffee in the morning?
>
> Jill

Last year I was in Florida on business. On the first morning at the
hotel, I had forgotten the language problem and when asked what I wanted
to drink, I asked for a white coffee. Complete dumb expression on the
face of the waiter who eventually said "What ? ". I asked for coffee
with milk which I then received, along with a "thanks" for the recipe !

Either he was seriously taking the mickey or we really are two nations
separated by the same language.

S


jmcquown wrote:
> John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had while
> on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an authentic
> American diner. When the server came to our table John ordered coffee
> (intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at me and asked if I
> wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee. John said it's because I
> look "British". Don't Brits drink coffee in the morning?
>
> Jill
>
>

jmcquown wrote:
> John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had while
> on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an authentic
> American diner. When the server came to our table John ordered coffee
> (intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at me and asked if I
> wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee.
>
>John said it's because I look "British".

Hmm, I hadn't noticed that you have rotten teeth. hehe

Sheldon

Steve Y > wrote:
> Last year I was in Florida on business. On the first morning at the
> hotel, I had forgotten the language problem and when asked what I wanted
> to drink, I asked for a white coffee. Complete dumb expression on the
> face of the waiter who eventually said "What ? ". I asked for coffee
> with milk which I then received, along with a "thanks" for the recipe !

> Either he was seriously taking the mickey or we really are two nations
> separated by the same language.

This can vary from place to place in the US. For example, in New York
City and immediate surroundings a "coffee, regular" means with milk and
sugar. Everywhere else it usually means "not decaf." I think with
just milk is "coffee, light," but I haven't lived near NYC in 30 years
so I've forgotten some of the lingo.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

Steve Y wrote:
> Last year I was in Florida on business. On the first morning at the
> hotel, I had forgotten the language problem and when asked what I
> wanted to drink, I asked for a white coffee. Complete dumb expression
> on the face of the waiter who eventually said "What ? ". I asked for
> coffee with milk which I then received, along with a "thanks" for the
> recipe !
>
> Either he was seriously taking the mickey or we really are two
> nations separated by the same language.
>
I can top that. I asked for coffee with milk somewhere n the USA,
can't remember exactly where after all this time, and got a cup of black
coffee and a *glass* of milk!

Christine

> wrote

> I think with just milk is "coffee, light,"

When I ordered coffee, even from Dunkin Donuts, coffee light
meant much as you say except it had better be at least half and half,
with any luck light cream. Don't come at me with coffee and milk,
ack.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> > wrote
>
>
>> I think with just milk is "coffee, light,"
>
>
> When I ordered coffee, even from Dunkin Donuts, coffee light
> meant much as you say except it had better be at least half and half,
> with any luck light cream. Don't come at me with coffee and milk,
> ack.
>
> nancy
>
>
Years ago, I was invited to a friend's house on the Jersey Shore for a
game of bridge. Midway through the afternoon, the hostess summoned
the maid and told her that we were ready for refreshments.

The maid soon came with small tea sandwiches and small pastries, as
well as coffee and a bowl with sugar. Everything was arranged
beautifully, with the most tasteful china and sterling serving and
eating utensils. However, there was no milk, so the woman was called
again and the hostess said, "please bring some cream". Back she came,
carrying a silver tray on which there was a crystal creamer, through
which you could see the bluish liquid of the "cream", the skim milk it
contained. Knowing the hostess, we all knew that this was the only
kind of milk or cream she would have, so nobody said anything. )

"Margaret Suran" > wrote

> Nancy Young wrote:

>> When I ordered coffee, even from Dunkin Donuts, coffee light
>> meant much as you say except it had better be at least half and half,
>> with any luck light cream. Don't come at me with coffee and milk,
>> ack.

> eating utensils. However, there was no milk, so the woman was called
> again and the hostess said, "please bring some cream". Back she came,
> carrying a silver tray on which there was a crystal creamer, through which
> you could see the bluish liquid of the "cream", the skim milk it
> contained. Knowing the hostess, we all knew that this was the only kind
> of milk or cream she would have, so nobody said anything. )

Oh, no. (laugh) Just the thought makes me cringe. I'd drink it black.
Or not at all. Really, if you know you're serving company coffee, you'd
think you'd stock some half and half. You know, for company. Eh, no
big deal.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> > wrote
>
>
>> I think with just milk is "coffee, light,"
>>
>
> When I ordered coffee, even from Dunkin Donuts, coffee light
> meant much as you say except it had better be at least half and half,
> with any luck light cream. Don't come at me with coffee and milk,
> ack.
>
> nancy
>
>
>
Urrk! I remember haff n haff, sort of evaporated milk (not as bad as
"non dairy whitener" which I think was liquefied plastic). The Air
Canada flight out of Minneapolis was delayed, very bumpy and stuck for
ages in Winnipeg, but by golly you got milk with your coffee without
having to ask for it! I nearly cried, it was such a homely touch. I have
to say that for an Aussie, at least in 1976, Canada is much less foreign
than the USA.

Christine

"Old Mother Ashby" > wrote

> Nancy Young wrote:
>> > wrote

>> When I ordered coffee, even from Dunkin Donuts, coffee light
>> meant much as you say except it had better be at least half and half,
>> with any luck light cream. Don't come at me with coffee and milk,
>> ack.

> Urrk! I remember haff n haff, sort of evaporated milk

Half and half is half milk, half cream.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> "Margaret Suran" > wrote
>
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> When I ordered coffee, even from Dunkin Donuts, coffee light
>>> meant much as you say except it had better be at least half and
>>> half, with any luck light cream. Don't come at me with coffee and
>>> milk,
>>> ack.
>
>> eating utensils. However, there was no milk, so the woman was called
>> again and the hostess said, "please bring some cream". Back she
>> came, carrying a silver tray on which there was a crystal creamer,
>> through which you could see the bluish liquid of the "cream", the
>> skim milk it contained. Knowing the hostess, we all knew that this
>> was the only kind of milk or cream she would have, so nobody said
>> anything. )
>
> Oh, no. (laugh) Just the thought makes me cringe. I'd drink it
> black.
> Or not at all. Really, if you know you're serving company coffee,
> you'd think you'd stock some half and half. You know, for company.
> Eh, no
> big deal.
>
> nancy

At least the lovely crystal creamer didn't contain the Coffee Mate powdered
stuff!

Jill

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 09:01:23 +1000, Old Mother Ashby
> wrote:

> I can top that. I asked for coffee with milk somewhere n the USA,
>can't remember exactly where after all this time, and got a cup of black
>coffee and a *glass* of milk!

Next time, ask for coffee with cream. )

Carol

Craig Welch wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>> Oh, no. (laugh) Just the thought makes me cringe. I'd drink it black.
>> Or not at all. Really, if you know you're serving company coffee, you'd
>> think you'd stock some half and half. You know, for company. Eh, no
>> big deal.
>
> I'd serve it with cream. Real cream. Or milk (full cream) if asked.
>
It's all a matter of taste, I suppose. I've never liked cream in my
coffee, somehow the result tastes oily. Didn't like half and half either
for much the same reason. I don't see how a hostess could go wrong
offering full cream milk.

Christine

Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
> On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 09:01:23 +1000, Old Mother Ashby
> > wrote:
>
>
>> I can top that. I asked for coffee with milk somewhere n the USA,
>> can't remember exactly where after all this time, and got a cup of black
>> coffee and a *glass* of milk!
>>
>
> Next time, ask for coffee with cream. )
>
> Carol
>
Oh, I tried that. So they gave me coffee with *cream* in it, when what I
wanted was milk. As I recall I just resigned myself to half and half,
but I never really liked it.

Nowadays I wouldn't be ordering a flat white anyway, coffee having
changed so much. I prefer a latte, which has a greater milk to coffee
ratio. Cappuccinos, on the other hand, are a terrible waste of money,
having to pay for all that froth and the ridiculous cocoa powder on the
top...

Christine

"Old Mother Ashby" > wrote

> Craig Welch wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>
>>> Oh, no. (laugh) Just the thought makes me cringe. I'd drink it black.
>>> Or not at all. Really, if you know you're serving company coffee, you'd
>>> think you'd stock some half and half. You know, for company. Eh, no
>>> big deal.
>>
>> I'd serve it with cream. Real cream. Or milk (full cream) if asked.
>>
> It's all a matter of taste, I suppose. I've never liked cream in my
> coffee, somehow the result tastes oily. Didn't like half and half either
> for much the same reason. I don't see how a hostess could go wrong
> offering full cream milk.

If we're talking about Margaret's story, the woman offered skim milk.
Fat free milk. Not full cream milk. That aside, usually, or often,
whatever,
half and half is offered in public. Places often serve that in what we call
creamers, little plastic containers of it.

At any rate, I dislike milk in my coffee, I buy light cream for that in
my home. Also to be considered, I don't know if our definitions of
milk and cream, etc., jibe, between the US and Australia.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> "Old Mother Ashby" > wrote
>
>
>> Craig Welch wrote:
>>
>>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Oh, no. (laugh) Just the thought makes me cringe. I'd drink it black.
>>>> Or not at all. Really, if you know you're serving company coffee, you'd
>>>> think you'd stock some half and half. You know, for company. Eh, no
>>>> big deal.
>>>>
>>> I'd serve it with cream. Real cream. Or milk (full cream) if asked.
>>>
>>>
>> It's all a matter of taste, I suppose. I've never liked cream in my
>> coffee, somehow the result tastes oily. Didn't like half and half either
>> for much the same reason. I don't see how a hostess could go wrong
>> offering full cream milk.
>>
>
> If we're talking about Margaret's story, the woman offered skim milk.
> Fat free milk. Not full cream milk. That aside, usually, or often,
> whatever,
> half and half is offered in public. Places often serve that in what we call
> creamers, little plastic containers of it.
>

I understood that the woman was offering skim milk, which pretty poor
form as a hostess. Here, in cafes, if you want milk in your coffee the
management puts it in - people will specify soy milk or skinny milk or
whatever if they want. If you want milky coffee you ask for a latte,
less milky a flat white. If you really want to add it yourself you'd
order a long black and ask for milk separately, but it would come in a
little jug, not one of those plastic containers. They are not unknown,
but they are used for UHT milk, used where there is no adequate
refrigeration.

The trouble with adding milk separately is that it cools the coffee
down. If you order a flat white you expect the milk to be warm, but not
frothed of course.
> At any rate, I dislike milk in my coffee, I buy light cream for that in
> my home. Also to be considered, I don't know if our definitions of
> milk and cream, etc., jibe, between the US and Australia.
>
> nancy
>
I think Craig has dealt with that. The definitions of milk and cream
basically tally, but we don't have half and half - the nearest in
consistency would be evaporated milk, which nobody would ever think of
putting in coffee. It's just a matter of what you're used to, I suppose,
but it's little things like that which you notice when you're traveling,
like light switches going the wrong (OK, other) way, and shallow toilet
bowls! And two prong power plugs, which made me really nervous!

Christine

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
.. .
> John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had while
> on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an authentic
> American diner. When the server came to our table John ordered coffee
> (intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at me and asked if I
> wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee. John said it's because
> I
> look "British". Don't Brits drink coffee in the morning?
>
> Jill
>
>
Whenever I visit the US I'm always reminded that we are almost completely
different culturally, but with a common language. Lots of things are
familiar from the TV, but we are very different. Americans seem to talk much
more, never saying one word when 3 will do! All the people I have met in the
US seem to be very friendly and will have a conversation rather than just
answering a question. I think most Brits get a shock when they go over to
the US because they expect because you speak the same language you're the
same, where as if they go to say France they expect a different culture
because of the language. Every Brit I know who has visited the US agrees
that just listening to Americans talk is amazing! Your language skills seem
to be very different to ours! Jill, were you being quiet and not making
conversation when the waitress thought you were British?
One of the other great things in the US is the amount of coffee served at
breakfast, in the UK it's usually one cup, refills are only just catching on
here!
Canada did seem very much more familliar than the US, it was just little
things like a saucer with your cup!

Sarah
(Who loves visiting the US)

Old Mother Ashby wrote on 05 Aug 2006 in rec.food.cooking

> but we don't have half and half - the nearest in
> consistency would be evaporated milk,

In canada it's not called half and half but called cerial cream. Not called
heavy cream but called whipping cream (no additives).

--


Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect

-Alan

Craig Welch wrote:
> Old Mother Ashby wrote:
>
>> The definitions of milk and cream
>> basically tally, but we don't have half and half - the nearest in
>> consistency would be evaporated milk, which nobody would ever think
>> of putting in coffee.
>
> Hmm. Ever ordered a coffee in Malaysia? Condensed milk (yuk) and sugar
> is the default. That's OK if you can head it off at the pass, but in a
> business environment one is often being shown in while the coffee
> arrives. No chance to say 'I would rather have it black (Kopi Kosong)
> thanks'.
>
Sounds like Thai Iced tea, which is made with sweetened condensed milk and
lots of sugar. Cha Nam Yen. It comes looking like a whitish-orange iced
drink. If you don't already like iced tea, this stuff will make you really
dislike it.

On the other hand, I love iced coffee. But please, allow me to make it for
myself!

Jill

Old Mother Ashby wrote:
> Steve Y wrote:
>> Last year I was in Florida on business. On the first morning at the
>> hotel, I had forgotten the language problem and when asked what I
>> wanted to drink, I asked for a white coffee. Complete dumb expression
>> on the face of the waiter who eventually said "What ? ". I asked for
>> coffee with milk which I then received, along with a "thanks" for the
>> recipe !
>>
>> Either he was seriously taking the mickey or we really are two
>> nations separated by the same language.
>>
> I can top that. I asked for coffee with milk somewhere n the USA,
> can't remember exactly where after all this time, and got a cup of
> black coffee and a *glass* of milk!
>
> Christine

Funny, because I drink my coffee black but I often ask for a tall glass of
milk to go *with my meal*. I suppose it's easier for the server to bring
out the
'beverages' at one time without realizing you meant coffee with milk IN it.
I've never actually been to a place that served coffee already fixed up with
milk, cream, sugar, or anything like that. They bring the coffee, black,
and then the additional little pots of creamers or milk and packets of sugar
(or substitutes). I don't expect someone to "fix" my coffee for me. To me
that's an odd concept.

Jill

Sarah wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had
>> while on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an
>> authentic American diner. When the server came to our table John
>> ordered coffee (intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at
>> me and asked if I wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee.
>> John said it's because I
>> look "British". Don't Brits drink coffee in the morning?
>>
>> Jill
>>
>>
>Jill, were you being quiet and not making
> conversation when the waitress thought you were British?
> One of the other great things in the US is the amount of coffee
> served at breakfast, in the UK it's usually one cup, refills are only
> just catching on here!
> Canada did seem very much more familliar than the US, it was just
> little things like a saucer with your cup!
>
> Sarah
> (Who loves visiting the US)

Sarah, I was just sitting there talking quietly with John when the waitress
came to the table and asked if I would like a cup of tea. I was really
astounded by the question. I glanced and John and then said, 'Um, no
thanks, I'd really like a cup of coffee." It was after she left the table
and I said to John, what was that about? and he said I look British. I
really have no idea what that means! LOL Sure I've got Scottish ancestry
and I do like tea (I'm a MIF and no lemon, thanks) but in the mornings I
want my coffee, straight. I've never liked milk, cream or sugar in my
coffee.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:

> Sarah, I was just sitting there talking quietly with John when the
> waitress came to the table and asked if I would like a cup of tea. I
> was really astounded by the question. I glanced and John and then
> said, 'Um, no thanks, I'd really like a cup of coffee." It was after
> she left the table and I said to John, what was that about? and he
> said I look British. I really have no idea what that means! LOL
> Sure I've got Scottish ancestry and I do like tea (I'm a MIF and no
> lemon, thanks) but in the mornings I want my coffee, straight. I've
> never liked milk, cream or sugar in my coffee.

Hey Jill, I think it is time we had a piccie of you))))

O in Scotland) I can only think that you have reddish hair and a pale
complexion and freckles)))

jmcquown wrote:

> John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had while
> on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an authentic
> American diner. When the server came to our table John ordered coffee
> (intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at me and asked if I
> wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee. John said it's because I
> look "British". Don't Brits drink coffee in the morning?
>

My English grandmother came to Canada around the turn of the last century. I
don't think she ever drank coffee. My father spent close to four years in
England during the war, so as well as being raised in an English household, he
spent a considerable amount of time there. Things may have changed in Britain
over the years, but around our house it was tea, almost always tea. We had tea
for breakfast, tea at lunch, tea at dinner, tea for tea. We rarely had
coffee. I never liked milk and had a slight allergy to it. One brother was
more allergic to it. We drank tea.

Dave Smith wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>
>> John and I were talking about some of the food experiences we've had while
>> on the road. We were in a small town in Illinois eating at an authentic
>> American diner. When the server came to our table John ordered coffee
>> (intending it to be 2 coffees). The woman looked at me and asked if I
>> wanted tea. I was puzzled; no thank you, coffee. John said it's because I
>> look "British". Don't Brits drink coffee in the morning?
>>
>>
>
> My English grandmother came to Canada around the turn of the last century. I
> don't think she ever drank coffee. My father spent close to four years in
> England during the war, so as well as being raised in an English household, he
> spent a considerable amount of time there. Things may have changed in Britain
> over the years, but around our house it was tea, almost always tea. We had tea
> for breakfast, tea at lunch, tea at dinner, tea for tea. We rarely had
> coffee. I never liked milk and had a slight allergy to it. One brother was
> more allergic to it. We drank tea.
>
>
>
It was like that here when I was growing up. Everybody drank tea all the
time. Instant coffee was available, but drinking real coffee was very
rare in the Anglo/Celtic population. My Auntie Ann was an exception, and
she got me used to coffee in my early teens. I recall that I didn't like
the taste at first, but I didn't like tea either. In fact I used to
drink milk with my meals all through my teens, long after the age when
you grow out of that.

Starting in the mid 70s the whole coffee thing changed in Australia.
Espresso machines started to appear everywhere, even in pubs! Filter
coffee was tried and found wanting, but plunger pots became all the rage
and people were no longer willing to put up with the stewed brown muck
that you still get at conferences and cheap fast food places - nowadays
even Maccas do espresso. And of course in the last five years no home
has been complete without a domestic espresso machine.

People still drink a lot of tea, mind you. Tea is the new coffee. All
respectable cafes and restaurants offer a choice of varieties, usually
from boutique suppliers, of both regular and herbal teas. Tea bags are
regarded with disdain. I always have peppermint tea after dinner - we
usually have Hunan (slightly smoked), Dilmah (regular), Chai , ginger
and chamomile on hand.

This is all very middle class, you understand. Lots of people still
drink Nescafe and Bushells tea bags. And it's not easy to get a decent
coffee in the bush.

Christine

jmcquown wrote:
> Old Mother Ashby wrote:
>
>> Steve Y wrote:
>>
>>> Last year I was in Florida on business. On the first morning at the
>>> hotel, I had forgotten the language problem and when asked what I
>>> wanted to drink, I asked for a white coffee. Complete dumb expression
>>> on the face of the waiter who eventually said "What ? ". I asked for
>>> coffee with milk which I then received, along with a "thanks" for the
>>> recipe !
>>>
>>> Either he was seriously taking the mickey or we really are two
>>> nations separated by the same language.
>>>
>>>
>> I can top that. I asked for coffee with milk somewhere n the USA,
>> can't remember exactly where after all this time, and got a cup of
>> black coffee and a *glass* of milk!
>>
>> Christine
>>
>
> Funny, because I drink my coffee black but I often ask for a tall glass of
> milk to go *with my meal*. I suppose it's easier for the server to bring
> out the
> 'beverages' at one time without realizing you meant coffee with milk IN it.
> I've never actually been to a place that served coffee already fixed up with
> milk, cream, sugar, or anything like that. They bring the coffee, black,
> and then the additional little pots of creamers or milk and packets of sugar
> (or substitutes). I don't expect someone to "fix" my coffee for me. To me
> that's an odd concept.
>
> Jill
>
>
>
Here if you're actually having a sit down meal you drink something cold
with the meal and have tea or coffee afterwards. Of course if it's
takeaway or a quick lunch you'll order the hot drink with the food, but
you are always asked how you want it. Naturally you add your own sugar,
but you have to specify long black if you want it plain and if you
wanted to add cold milk you'd have ask for that. Normally if you want
milk in your coffee you ask for a flat white.

I think this is all the sort of cultural differences that somebody else
was referring to. We speak the same language, more or less, but there
are a lot of differences between Americans, Canadians, Australians and
the various types of Brits. Makes life interesting, but can lead to
misunderstandings :-)

Christine

Ophelia wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Sarah, I was just sitting there talking quietly with John when the
>> waitress came to the table and asked if I would like a cup of tea. I
>> was really astounded by the question. I glanced and John and then
>> said, 'Um, no thanks, I'd really like a cup of coffee." It was after
>> she left the table and I said to John, what was that about? and he
>> said I look British. I really have no idea what that means! LOL
>> Sure I've got Scottish ancestry and I do like tea (I'm a MIF and no
>> lemon, thanks) but in the mornings I want my coffee, straight. I've
>> never liked milk, cream or sugar in my coffee.
>
> Hey Jill, I think it is time we had a piccie of you))))
>
> O in Scotland) I can only think that you have reddish hair and a
> pale complexion and freckles)))

No freckles! But reddish hair shows up no matter how I colour it! And pale
skin, yes. I am very pale. You can find me on the rfc (unofficial) page.

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/mug/

Jill

Jill wrote:

> Sounds like Thai Iced tea, which is made with sweetened condensed milk and
> lots of sugar. Cha Nam Yen. It comes looking like a whitish-orange iced
> drink. If you don't already like iced tea, this stuff will make you
> really dislike it.

I love Thai iced tea. It's available at Cost Plus World Market. It's not
brewed in the same way as "normal" tea at all, it's boiled -- yes, BOILED --
for half an hour. (Besides tea, the mix contains a bunch of spices which
need that long boiling to extract their flavor.)

In most Thai places I've been, they sweeten the tea heavily, pour it over
ice, then top with half & half, which floats on top of the tea until you
stir it in. (The sugar in the tea makes it denser. If you didn't sweeten it,
you'd have a harder time getting the half & half to float on top.)

I associate sweetened condensed milk with Vietnamese coffee, not with Thai
iced tea. I've never seen Thai iced tea made with sweetened condensed milk,
though I don't doubt that some people prepare it that way.

Bob

Bob Terwilliger wrote:
> Jill wrote:
>
>> Sounds like Thai Iced tea, which is made with sweetened condensed
>> milk and lots of sugar. Cha Nam Yen. It comes looking like a
>> whitish-orange iced drink. If you don't already like iced tea, this
>> stuff will make you really dislike it.
>
> I love Thai iced tea. It's available at Cost Plus World Market. It's
> not brewed in the same way as "normal" tea at all, it's boiled --
> yes, BOILED -- for half an hour. (Besides tea, the mix contains a
> bunch of spices which need that long boiling to extract their flavor.)
>
> In most Thai places I've been, they sweeten the tea heavily, pour it
> over ice, then top with half & half, which floats on top of the tea
> until you stir it in. (The sugar in the tea makes it denser. If you
> didn't sweeten it, you'd have a harder time getting the half & half
> to float on top.)
>
> I associate sweetened condensed milk with Vietnamese coffee, not with
> Thai iced tea. I've never seen Thai iced tea made with sweetened
> condensed milk, though I don't doubt that some people prepare it that
> way.
>
> Bob

Guess you've never had it made in Bangkok. They seem to really like
sweetened condensed milk. And the restaurant (Emerald) that (used to be? it
might still be there) at Perkins and Mt. Moriah definitely used it. I've
never liked iced tea, Thai or otherwise.

Jill

Bob Terwilliger wrote on 06 Aug 2006 in rec.food.cooking

> I love Thai iced tea. It's available at Cost Plus World Market. It's
> not brewed in the same way as "normal" tea at all, it's boiled -- yes,
> BOILED -- for half an hour. (Besides tea, the mix contains a bunch of
> spices which need that long boiling to extract their flavor.)
>

My ex MIL is/was(?) from Nova Scotia...She boiled her tea leaves for 1/2
hour...The tea was normal everyday Red Rose brand Orange Pekoe. She drank
it with evapourated milk.

--


Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect

-Alan

Nancy Young > wrote:

> > wrote

> > I think with just milk is "coffee, light,"

> When I ordered coffee, even from Dunkin Donuts, coffee light
> meant much as you say except it had better be at least half and half,
> with any luck light cream. Don't come at me with coffee and milk,
> ack.

Well, the OP said milk and it seems to vary with location. I worked
in a newsstand in New Jersey when I was a teenager and
had to serve up coffee. I'm pretty sure we used regular milk.
Half&half or cream would have been expected in better restaurants
or for guests, but the newsstands and delis used milk.

I remember one of my friends' parents use condensed milk. It had
a very oily character to it, in my experience. Real cream was
pretty rare.

That was back in the 60s and 70s. I know the last time I was
in New York (late 90s) I had forgotten the whole "coffee, regular"
thing and ended up with milk and sugar in my coffee when I stopped
into a deli. Most places these days you add your own.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

jmcquown wrote:
> Funny, because I drink my coffee black but I often ask for a tall glass of
> milk to go *with my meal*. I suppose it's easier for the server to bring
> out the
> 'beverages' at one time without realizing you meant coffee with milk IN it.
> I've never actually been to a place that served coffee already fixed up with
> milk, cream, sugar, or anything like that. They bring the coffee, black,
> and then the additional little pots of creamers or milk and packets of sugar
> (or substitutes). I don't expect someone to "fix" my coffee for me. To me
> that's an odd concept.
>

I agree because people have different preferences about the amount of
sugar and milk/cream/artificial-whitener. In DK you often get a
selection of white sugar (from beet), raw cane sugar and artificial
sweetener, and either prepackened LHT (long time durable) cream and
milk, or fresh milk (sometimes you have to you ask for it). Sometimes
even soy milk if you ask. For espresso drinks it can be difficult to
have a cafe lungo/americano because it is not on the menu and not all
baristas dare venture into letting more water through the filter or
adding hot water afterwards. Not to mention their troubles deciding on a
price for such advanced beverages

Steve Y wrote:
> Last year I was in Florida on business. On the first morning at the
> hotel, I had forgotten the language problem and when asked what I wanted
> to drink, I asked for a white coffee. Complete dumb expression on the
> face of the waiter who eventually said "What ? ". I asked for coffee
> with milk which I then received, along with a "thanks" for the recipe !
>
> Either he was seriously taking the mickey or we really are two nations
> separated by the same language.
>
> S

"White" coffee is a new term for me too. I've heard of and used
"light", but never "white".

BTW: I couldn't find a decent cup of just plain brewed coffee until I
got to Ireland. In France and England, I had to order cappuccino to
get something remotely drinkable. They give you a press and tell you
to "wait longer"... hey, how about another scoop of coffee in that
thing?

Gabby wrote:
> Old Mother Ashby wrote:
>
> > I think Craig has dealt with that. The definitions of milk and cream
> > basically tally, but we don't have half and half - the nearest in
> > consistency would be evaporated milk, which nobody would ever think of
> > putting in coffee.
>
> Depends where you live. In parts of Canada, a can of Carnation
> evaporated milk is what's set on the table to be added to tea and
> coffee -- it's what I grew up with and it's ubiquitous around here.
> I've known people ask "Don't you have Carnation?" when faced with a
> choice between whole milk & cream.
>
> I've seen the stuff poured on Jell-o and cake, much the same way you'd
> use cream. The smell makes me gag, but generations have used nothing
> but, even diluting it with water to drink.
>
> Gabby

Ah, but if you put a sealed can of Carnation evaporated milk in a
saucepan full of water and boil it for an hour or so, you get a nice
caramel sauce. Mind you, I've never had enough nerve to try it but I
have had the results and it is quite good.

And some people claim that Canada does not have an indiginous cuisine!

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

John Kane wrote:
> Gabby wrote:
> > Depends where you live. In parts of Canada, a can of Carnation
> > evaporated milk is what's set on the table to be added to tea and
> > coffee -- it's what I grew up with and it's ubiquitous around here.
> > I've known people ask "Don't you have Carnation?" when faced with a
> > choice between whole milk & cream.
> >
> > I've seen the stuff poured on Jell-o and cake, much the same way you'd
> > use cream. The smell makes me gag, but generations have used nothing
> > but, even diluting it with water to drink.
> >

> Ah, but if you put a sealed can of Carnation evaporated milk in a
> saucepan full of water and boil it for an hour or so, you get a nice
> caramel sauce.

No you don't! You get that if you put a sealed can of Borden's
Condensed Sweetened milk in a saucepan full of water and boil it for an
hour or so. I don't even want to contemplate what you'd get if you did
it with Carnation, which is not sweetened in any way.

> And some people claim that Canada does not have an indiginous cuisine!

Of course we do: roasted caribou, caribou burgers, seal flipper pie,
fish and brewis and scruncheons, etc.

Gabby