Ipoh white coffee
Ipoh white coffee is a popular coffee drink in Southeast Asia, particularly in Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. The coffee beans are roasted with palm oil margarine, and the resulting coffee is served with condensed milk.[1]
 | |
| Place of origin | Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Southeast Asia |
| Associated national cuisine | Malaysia and Singapore |
| Serving temperature | Hot or cold |
| Main ingredients | Coffee powder, condensed milk |
Origins
The term ‘white coffee’ originates from the literal translation of its Chinese name, which was introduced in the 19th century by Chinese migrants in Southeast Asia who came to work in the local tin mines.[2]
Styles
Traditionally, the style ‘black’ coffee roast (Kopi-O) is produced by roasting the beans with sugar, margarine and wheat.[3]
‘White’ coffee, on the other hand, is produced with only margarine and without any sugar, resulting in a less dark roast. Ipoh White Coffee is also widely available in an instant version.[1] It is sometimes consumed after dinner.[4]
The generic term ‘Ipoh white coffee’ in Chinese is "白咖啡"(Jyutping: Ji4bou2 Baak6 Kaa1fei1). Baak6 "白" (pinyin: bái), commonly meaning white, has nothing to do with the colour in this instance, but is rather a reference to the way the coffee is roasted. In Chinese, Bái also means ‘without’ or ‘unadulterated’. Despite its name, the drink is not exclusive to the city of Ipoh.
References
- Simon Richmond (2007). Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Ediz. Inglese. Lonely Planet. pp. 148–. ISBN 978-1-74059-708-1.
- Avran, Dave (10 September 2019). "Intriguing and interesting inception of Ipoh White Coffee". Free Malaysia Today News.
- Liew Siew Ling; Nik Ismail Nik Daud; Osman Hassan (6 September 2000). "Determination Of Coffee Content In Coffee Mixtures" (PDF). Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences. 7 (2): 327–332. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- Khaw, Eu Hooi (14 December 2001). "A Tried and Tested Roast Turkey". New Straits Times. p. 5. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
