Salty coffee for 15,000 VND in Hue fascinates Western tourists, some drink 2-3 times a day

In a recent article published on CNN Travel , author Maggie Hiufu Wong commented that Vietnamese salt coffee is "a unique drink with a blend of sweet, salty and bitter flavors, spreading from Hue to the world ."

According to CNN , a new beverage trend emerging on social media platforms recently welcomed by young people is a special version of a caffeinated drink - salted coffee.

Salt coffee appeared at a small shop in Hue since 2010 (Photo: Character provided).

The origin of this drink makes many diners even more curious. It turns out that it is a small coffee shop, designed in a simple, rustic style, located right in the dreamy city of Hue.

When asked by Dan Tri reporter about the idea of ​​creating this interesting drink, the shop owners, Mr. Tran Nguyen Huu Phong and Ms. Ho Thi Thanh Huong, said that in 2010 he opened the first shop called "Salt Coffee".

From this simple name, Mr. Phong wanted to create a drink with a similar name. Mr. Phong researched and mixed it alone, and gradually the salt coffee was born from familiar ingredients. It was still coffee beans from the Central Highlands combined with Hue salt and condensed milk, creating a strange drink.

Foreign visitors share their experience of drinking salt coffee in Hue ( Video source: NVCC).

"In the 2010s, when people mentioned coffee, they often thought of black coffee with added sugar or milk. But when I opened a shop, to create a difference to attract customers, I thought that adding the flavor of salty coffee would be a way to retain customers," Mr. Phong shared.

Looking back at the early days, things weren’t easy. Although Phong wanted to create a new drink for his customers, he wasn’t really confident.

The Hue man spent half a year struggling to adjust the recipe himself. After receiving positive feedback from customers, he was even more motivated to continue researching to perfect the taste.

Over the past 14 years, amidst the increasingly fierce competition in the beverage market, the salt coffee shop still has its own place in the hearts of Hue diners. Foreign guests have come to experience it out of curiosity, and some have "fallen in love" without realizing it.

Most of the customers coming to the restaurant are Europeans such as British, German, French, or American, Australian. Some customers come to Hue for 2 days but keep coming back because they like it.

This drink conquers many foreign guests when they come to the shop (Photo: Character provided).

"Many foreign customers come to the shop for the first time out of curiosity. They ask me if salt coffee means adding salt to the drink. So that customers are not confused, I serve them myself and show them how to drink it. Customer satisfaction is the source of energy for me to continue. There are customers who like it so much that they come to the shop 2-3 times a day," the shop owner happily revealed.

Like many other coffee shops, the drinks here are quite diverse, but the most popular dish is still salt coffee at 15,000 VND/cup.

Previously, when sharing on CNN Travel , Mr. Phong expressed "gratitude to his first guests, who were willing to enjoy new dishes, giving sincere comments so that the restaurant could adjust and perfect the taste accordingly."

According to research, Vietnam is not the only country in the world that adds salt to coffee. Previously, in 2023, an article on Bon Appetit (a website specializing in introducing American cuisine) suggested people add salt to their coffee to reduce bitterness. The article also noted that this tradition dates back hundreds of years in countries such as Turkey, Hungary, and Siberia.

"Although salted coffee is just one of many signature drinks in Vietnam, its flavor can surprise those who have never tried it," CNN Travel 's writer commented.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/ca-phe-muoi-15000-dong-o-hue-me-hoac-khach-tay-nguoi-uong-2-3-luotngay-20240730205504864.htm