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
