Salted coffee in the citadel.

The cafe doesn't have a fancy name; it's simply called "Salt Coffee," and that's enough. It's not a recent "craze" or "trend," but rather, salt coffee has been around in Hue for about a decade, adding a unique touch to the culinary landscape of the ancient capital.

From the outside, you have to go through a small pathway to get inside the cafe. What opens up before your eyes is a charming, cool, and lush small garden space. Almost every time I visit, it's crowded with customers. This was originally a house, and the owner used it as a cafe, so it has a genuine garden (home) atmosphere, not an attempt to create the look of a typical garden cafe.

I like sitting in the L-shaped corner of the cafe; it's airy and bright, and through the glass window I can see the clear sky shaded by trees. I can also watch the lively crowds coming and going, and hear the familiar Hue dialect sounds in my ears.

While here, you absolutely must try the salted coffee. A memorable cup costs only 15,000 VND. It's said that to prepare it, you need a little condensed milk, fermented milk, and salt. The salt foam has just the right amount of light, airy fluffiness – not too salty, nor too thick and heavy. Combined with coffee and stirred well, you have an attractive drink, a perfect blend of creamy, nutty, slightly bitter, sweet, and salty flavors, leaving an unforgettable aftertaste.

Contributing to the unique character of the salted coffee here are the coffee filters served to customers. These aluminum filters aren't brand new and gleaming, some even slightly dented, but they offer a delightful experience: leisurely waiting for the rich, dark coffee to slowly drip down. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, a moment of relaxed contemplation with a cup of coffee is truly a form of "healing."

Come to Hue and experience Salt Coffee for yourself.

(Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest, part of the "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program, 2nd edition, 2024, organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Graphics: CHI PHAN

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ca-phe-muoi-trong-thanh-noi-196240326221825243.htm