Coffee, Tea... Jelly?

Since I’m not really a big beer drinker, and Scotch & wine are hard to come by, I’ve taken to sampling any other kind of beverage I can find.

I’ve had pineapple juice with little bits of jellied coconut in it, mango juice with little bits of jellied coconut in it, some sort of herb-like, Brio-wannabee with – you guessed it - little bits of jellied something or other in it…

Are you noticing a trend yet?

Chunky drinks.

You see, texture is a huge part of food & beverages around here.

In Asian culture food is rated not only on its look, its smell and its taste, but also on how it feels when you’re eating it.

Is it crispy? Chewy? Gelatinous? How do the different consistencies go together? Do they complement each other or work against each other?

Yeah – in North America we do have the option between “regular” and “extra crispy”, but over here it reaches far beyond that.

Very rarely will you have just one feeling when you eat… your noodles may be firm, but the meat in it will be fried very crisp, the vegetables tender and the sauce will be thick & gravy-like, so that when you chew, it all comes together in your mouth. Sort of a symphony for your palette.

And the beverages are no different.

With the exception of soda pop, very rarely do you find a drink that’s just liquid. There’s always something else in it… little bits of aloe, pieces of flavoured jelly, glutinous rice (like “Bubble Tea”).

Even something as simple as ordering a glass of apple juice has an added surprise to it. They don’t just open a tin and pour you a glass. They take an actual apple, blend it down to a juicy pulp and mix it with water (and sometimes honey), so you’re left with a taste explosion that’s layered in satisfaction.

However, the best drink I’ve had by far has to be “Kickapoo Joy Juice”.

That’s right… “KICK – A – POO… JOY JUICE!!!”

Try saying it out loud, three-times fast! Isn’t it amazing?

Sure, it doesn’t taste like anything special – kind of like a weak Mountain Dew. But I think its name is, hands down…

THE GREATEST DRINK NAME EVER!!!

www.kickapoojoy.com.my