Teh Right Way

So many variations of local coffee and tea at hawkers, but what do they all mean? We’ve pulled together the lingo you need to have the perfect pick-me-up.

Kopi (coffee)

Famously brewed in a ‘sock’, kopi is used with robusto beans, known to have a higher caffeine kick. The coffee on its own is incredibly strong and slightly thicker. Ordering a kopi will get you equal amounts of coffee and water, with sweetened condensed milk on the bottom of the mug to stir in.

Kopi Gau – More coffee than water
Kopi Po – Less coffee than water
Kopi Siew Dai – Half the sugar
Kopi Si (or C) – Replaces condensed milk with sweetened evaporated milk
Kopi Kosong – No sugar
Kopi Peng – Ice is added

Teh (tea)
Not your everyday Earl Grey, teh tarik (pulled tea) is called so due to the way the mixture is poured from a height between two jugs, giving the froth on top. Using a Ceylon tea – which can be quite bitter on its own – water is added, and condensed milk is mixed in for sweetness.

Teh Gau – More tea than water
Teh Po – Less tea than water
Teh O – Tea without condensed milk
Teh O Po – Less tea than water
Teh O Gau – More tea than water
Teh Si (or C) – Replaces condensed milk with sweetened evaporated milk
Siew Dai – Half the sugar
Kosong – No sugar
Teh Peng – Ice is added