Hybrid tea – the soul of the countryside in a cool glass of water

I just smiled and gently corrected: "No, it's hybrid tea, a unique and authentic Southern drink."

The name comes from the way of mixing "hybrid" - that is, combining two seemingly unrelated drinks: tea and coffee. This seemingly strange blend creates a unique, rustic, rich and unique flavor like the people here.

Hybrid tea in the Southwest region

A cup of authentic hybrid tea is made quite simply: the tea is brewed very strong, with lots of sugar, sweet in the Western style. Just like the saying: "Whatever Westerners eat is sweet, so their conversation is as sweet as sugarcane!"

Crushed ice is then pressed firmly by hand, to keep the tea cold for a long time without diluting it. Finally, a layer of strong filter coffee is poured on top, creating a strong ending to the flavor combination.

At this point, the glass of water is divided into three layers: sweet tea on the bottom, ice in the middle, and coffee on top. The drinker stirs the layers until they blend together, the water turns a shimmering brown color, signaling that it has been "brewed correctly". Taking a sip, the light taste of tea, the strong taste of coffee, and the numbing coldness on the tip of the tongue blend together.

On a hot summer afternoon, just a cup of hybrid tea is enough to cool down. But for people from the West, it is also a childhood memory, a roadside stall after school at noon, a break during the harvest season or a peaceful afternoon in the countryside under a simple thatched roof.

Today, among the myriad of trendy drinks, hybrid tea still quietly exists in roadside tea shops, street vendors and in the memories of many expatriates. Not fussy, not needing a brand, but containing the rustic, sincere love of the countryside.

If you have the opportunity to visit the West, do not rush to pass by the small shops along the road. Stop and order a cup of hybrid tea to enjoy this simple drink but full of the soul of the countryside, and feel the sweetness and simplicity of the Southern land.

( Entry to the contest "Impressions of Vietnamese coffee and tea" under the program "Honoring Vietnamese coffee and tea" for the 3rd time, 2025 organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Rules of the contest "Impressions of Vietnamese coffee and tea". Graphics: CHI PHAN

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tra-lai-hon-que-trong-mot-ly-nuoc-mat-196250416082232058.htm