Cha com leite
 

I am a big fan of street food vendors. Whatever food the street vendors
offer, I like to try. I was sick couple of times but so far nothing
serious happened to me. Anyway, last weekend I was driving through the
Maputo coast line and stop by a place call- Costa de sal. I heard from
many foreigners that this is a wonderful place for fresh sea food and
Portuguese drinks. When I went their, I was amazed to see this huge sea
food restaurant just next to the ocean. I was wondering, where am I
because all white people in the restaurant and the parking lot. I know
majority foreigners here are European(many of them Portuguese, French,
some Italian and English). Near the parking lot, I saw many street food
vendors and changed my mind to try the local food. One common picture
around Maputo is- street vendors always offer grilled chicken(Zambezi
chicken coated with a lot of garlic, butter and coconut cream) and hot
drinks(coffee or tea). I have seen this sign board written "Cafe com
leite or Cha com leite" many places. I though why don't I try my
favorite street vendor's food. I ordered half Zambezi grilled chicken,
garlic bread and Cha com leite.

Cha(tea) com(with) leite(milk):

It is a total coffee style tea with 4 oz cup. 1/3 of cup comes with
very strong black tea liquor and separate cr=E8me or leite ( actually
the leite is a mix of cream:milk /50:50). I tried some tea before
pouring milk. ugggg I couldn't even drink it because it was too strong.
People around me were laughing and one girl came to help me. She pours
the entire cream and milk mix. The mix leite and tea became exactly one
full cup. Then add some brown sugar or the white sugar can be dirty
sugar-:) Then she showed me, how to drink it- straight shot like
Tequila. I have seen in Italy, some people drink espresso shot like
this, but tea? This is the first time, I have seen something like this.
What the heck, I did the same and it was a wow experience. the leite
kill the bitterness and make the liquor smooth. I had total six shots
and it was very tasty. I know some people might say, this tea is not
healthy or a proper way to drink tea. Hey, we have many different ways
to enjoy the same thing. I am hooked with the style and will enjoy for
a while. BTW I couldn't find out the source and grade of the tea. I
left that enquiry for some other time rather then chatting, eating and
drinking cha com leite with local people.
=20
Ripon
Maputo, Mozambique

On 21 Mar 2005 11:38:45 -0800, Ripon wrote:

> I am a big fan of street food vendors. Whatever food the street vendors
> offer, I like to try. I was sick couple of times but so far nothing
> serious happened to me. Anyway, last weekend I was driving through the
> Maputo coast line and stop by a place call- Costa de sal. I heard from
> many foreigners that this is a wonderful place for fresh sea food and
> Portuguese drinks. When I went their, I was amazed to see this huge sea
> food restaurant just next to the ocean. I was wondering, where am I
> because all white people in the restaurant and the parking lot. I know
> majority foreigners here are European(many of them Portuguese, French,
> some Italian and English). Near the parking lot, I saw many street food
> vendors and changed my mind to try the local food. One common picture
> around Maputo is- street vendors always offer grilled chicken(Zambezi
> chicken coated with a lot of garlic, butter and coconut cream) and hot
> drinks(coffee or tea). I have seen this sign board written "Cafe com
> leite or Cha com leite" many places. I though why don't I try my
> favorite street vendor's food. I ordered half Zambezi grilled chicken,
> garlic bread and Cha com leite.
>
> Cha(tea) com(with) leite(milk):
>
> It is a total coffee style tea with 4 oz cup. 1/3 of cup comes with
> very strong black tea liquor and separate crème or leite ( actually
> the leite is a mix of cream:milk /50:50). I tried some tea before
> pouring milk. ugggg I couldn't even drink it because it was too strong.
> People around me were laughing and one girl came to help me. She pours
> the entire cream and milk mix. The mix leite and tea became exactly one
> full cup. Then add some brown sugar or the white sugar can be dirty
> sugar-:) Then she showed me, how to drink it- straight shot like
> Tequila. I have seen in Italy, some people drink espresso shot like
> this, but tea? This is the first time, I have seen something like this.
> What the heck, I did the same and it was a wow experience. the leite
> kill the bitterness and make the liquor smooth. I had total six shots
> and it was very tasty. I know some people might say, this tea is not
> healthy or a proper way to drink tea. Hey, we have many different ways
> to enjoy the same thing. I am hooked with the style and will enjoy for
> a while. BTW I couldn't find out the source and grade of the tea. I
> left that enquiry for some other time rather then chatting, eating and
> drinking cha com leite with local people.
>
> Ripon
> Maputo, Mozambique

I must tell you - and Lewis Perin - that these snippets of your travel
diaries are the most fascinating reads on Usenet. I always look forward to
your posts!

Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!

--
Cordially,

Sonam Dasara
3/21/2005 3:44:32 PM
dovekeeper+at+electric-ink+dot+com