A unique variation of fish sauce coffee.

After its debut at the Da Nang Cultural Heritage Festival in 2023, the variation of "Coffee with Fish Sauce" by Mr. Bui Thanh Phu (owner of Huong Lang Co fish sauce production facility, Nam O craft village, Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city) is attracting the attention of locals, tourists, and young people who are keen to follow trends.

Foreign visitors enthusiastically enjoyed fish sauce coffee at the Da Nang Cultural Heritage Festival 2023.

Speaking to the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, Mr. Phu said that in early 2022, inspired by the idea of fish sauce ice cream from some chefs, he and his colleagues began researching how to mix these two ingredients.

"Similar to how grilled fish sauce or braised fish sauce are made, traditional fish sauce is concentrated at high temperatures, creating a layer of fish sauce powder. This powder is sprinkled in just the right amount on the coffee, along with the cream, to create richness, a slight bitterness, and a strong coffee aroma," Mr. Phu shared.

Specifically, the fish sauce used to make fish sauce coffee must be traditional, pure fish sauce with a high protein content (around 30 degrees). According to Mr. Phu, because many industrial dipping sauces and fish sauces currently contain numerous additives and preservatives, the group only uses Nam O fish sauce for cooking, aiming to create a fragrant, delicious, and hygienic fish sauce powder.

Traditional fish sauce is concentrated into a powder, then sprinkled over coffee and cream to create a salty, aromatic, creamy, and slightly bitter coffee flavor.

Mr. Bui Thanh Phu said that fish sauce coffee is one of the variations that helps bring traditional fish sauce closer to the younger generation and tourists.

"Fish sauce is not just a dipping sauce or seasoning; it's also a medicine, functioning as an appetite stimulant and digestive aid. Concentrated fish sauce powder mixed with rice or white porridge is very good for people with diarrhea, bloating, and digestive disorders... Therefore, mixing fish sauce with coffee will not cause digestive disorders or stomach pain as many people believe," Mr. Phu affirmed.

Jessica (an American tourist) said that her first time trying coffee with fish sauce was very surprising because of the strong aroma of the fish sauce powder. "I could smell the fish sauce from the powder sprinkled on top of the coffee. However, the fish sauce aroma and salty taste combined very well with the coffee, creating a very harmonious flavor," Jessica said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Doan Xuan Son (residing in Cam Le district, Da Nang city) said that, like salted coffee and egg coffee, fish sauce coffee is a very unique variation.

"Coffee with fish sauce is not only unique but also delicious. This is also a way to bring traditional fish sauce closer to young people and tourists," Sơn commented.

Da Nang city leaders enjoy Nam O fish sauce coffee.

Looking ahead, Mr. Phu says he will continue researching how to balance the flavor of fish sauce coffee. After registering the patent and completing the production permits, he plans to try opening a fish sauce coffee shop, or produce powdered fish sauce in packets for consumers to mix into their coffee if needed.

"Hopefully, Nam O fish sauce powder or fish sauce coffee will become a familiar drink for everyone. I also plan to add fish sauce powder to souvenir baskets to give to locals and tourists whenever they visit Nam O Fish Sauce Village. This is a characteristic product, and also a small token of affection from the people of this region," Mr. Phu expressed.

Upon further research, coffee with fish sauce is actually not that unfamiliar. Fish sauce was once used in the way people in Hanoi brewed coffee in the past. Back then, some cafes would use the tip of a bamboo chopstick, dip it into a bottle of fish sauce, and then stir the chopstick into the cup of coffee before serving it to customers.

This gives the coffee a salty taste with a subtle aroma. This brewing method existed for decades, but is rarely used now.

Source