Baoquocte.vn. On the "cold mornings in the heart of Hanoi", sitting in a shop deep in a small alley in the old quarter, sipping a cup of warm egg coffee in hand, we seem to feel the soul of the Capital hidden deep behind the bustling life.
When Hanoi enters the last days of Autumn and early Winter with each cool breeze, it is also the time when people want to find themselves a cozy little place, make friends with a warm drink in hand, sip it little by little and quietly watch life, the mood drifts, strangely peaceful.
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| The water used to make coffee must also be kept at the right temperature. If the temperature is too low, the coffee will have a thin taste and not be thick enough. If the temperature is too high, the bitter taste will dissolve strongly, overpowering the aroma, acidity and sweetness. (Photo: Phuong Linh) |
There is no better drink than the famous egg coffee of this land. This is not only the charming pride of Hanoians but also something that makes diners from far away remember it from the first time they taste it.
And it is even more special when, hidden behind those attractive cups of coffee, we can contemplate the details, the subtleties, the depths, and the poetry in the souls of Hanoians.
The ancient story of a gift
Going back in time to the early days of egg coffee, people can understand how special this coffee is.
The creator of this unique coffee is Mr. Nguyen Van Giang - a former bartender at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi. Inspired by the French cappuccino drink and concerned about the scarcity of milk at that time, Mr. Giang cherished the idea of a coffee with a strong Vietnamese identity.
With his observation, research and experience, with his creative hands and all the love and care from the bartender, Mr. Giang created egg coffee in 1946.
Egg coffee has since become a unique mark in Hanoi's culinary scene and gradually conquered diners from near and far, leaving an irresistible impression on anyone.
The reputation of this unique drink is spreading far and wide, bringing with it the indescribable pride of an extremely creative and sophisticated Hanoian who has distilled the quintessence of many places and combined it with his own existing qualities to create a unique and unmistakable quality.
A very Hanoi gift!
Egg coffee is likened to a “muse” born and nurtured by the ingenuity and talent of the people of Hanoi. With his creativity, Mr. Giang is the artist - or in modern language - the famous barista of the capital, who brought the “muse” of egg coffee to the bewildered “poets” who are struggling to find a flavor that is both familiar and strange.
Strangely, who would have thought that the taste of eggs mixed with the bitterness of coffee could create such a wonderful drink? The skillful hands of the artisan must be meticulous, careful, and weigh and measure each ingredient to create the most perfect ratio.
The water used to make coffee must also be kept at the right temperature. If the temperature is too low, the coffee will taste thin and not thick enough. If the temperature is too high, the bitter taste will dissolve strongly, overpowering the aroma, acidity and sweetness.
To make the best egg coffee without any fishy smell, you have to separate all the egg whites, then beat them evenly, not breaking the air bubbles when the eggs are fluffy. Add a little sweet and fatty condensed milk, a little honey to leave a rich taste on your lips.
Finally, the egg cream layer is poured in, overflowing onto the coffee layer below, not blending but separating into two layers, floating like summer clouds.
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| Small and peaceful space of egg coffee. (Photo: Phuong Linh) |
Enjoying egg coffee must also be done in a very unique way. That is because the “muse” is a daughter of Hanoi, so to “conquer” her, one must also do it in a very… “Hanoi” way.
First, people use the small spoon that comes with the coffee to gently stir the cup of coffee once and then tilt the cup appropriately to be able to taste the different flavors at the same time. First is the rich, sweet, very light, soft taste of the egg, then comes the familiar strong bitter taste of the coffee.
To enjoy it “properly”, you need to slowly sip it bit by bit to fully feel the perfect blend. The cup of coffee is placed on a small bowl of hot water, to make the flavor more warm.
Egg coffee is like the personality of Hanoi girls, gentle but also very charming, deep, making us drunk forever.
Coffee culture, Hanoi culture
Immersing yourself in a small shop with a space that cannot be found anywhere else: lovely stools, silver walls, faded in the dim light, somewhere faintly the melody of an old love song, we suddenly realize the unique features in the story of Hanoi coffee - a "brand" in the coffee culture of Hanoi people.
Hanoi coffee culture is not as hasty in its enjoyment as the Americans, not as romantic, “sit, sip and enjoy” as the French, nor as exciting as the Italians. The scene of Hanoians in a small cafe enjoying coffee seems to bring a corner of Hanoi’s soul that remains, quiet, silent, distant and full of contemplation.
They seem to be hiding in a peaceful oasis, in contrast to the busy streets and hustle and bustle of modern life out there.
Historian Le Van Lan once commented on the “quality of Hanoi people”: orderly, neat, leisurely and carrying a bit of leisureliness from the old days, from the capital land and royal culture that has been deeply ingrained in the demeanor of the people of Trang An.
Until now, that beauty has been brought into every small corner of the coffee shop, to every sidewalk on stools - characteristics of popular culture and then blended together, becoming a typical residence of the culture of the thousand-year-old capital.
Perhaps that is why the thing that a child growing up in Hanoi remembers the most is the street space and coffee.
At the meeting, chatting and sipping a cup of hot coffee, memories are evoked, the scent of milk flowers in autumn, the scent of withered leaves in the afternoon, or the image of heavy-laden street vendors walking on the sidewalks... The aroma of coffee is like a compass that takes us to find the soul of Hanoi.
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| Behind those attractive cups of coffee, we can contemplate the details, the subtleties, the depths, and the poetry in the souls of Hanoi people. (Photo: Phuong Linh) |
It can be seen that egg coffee was born as a beloved gift of the children of Hanoi who have gathered all their meticulousness, delicacy, attention to detail and enthusiasm to dedicate to their beloved land.
Over time, this drink with its own unique character has become a characteristic beauty of the Capital - a "creative city" from ancient times, creating from the most familiar and closest things.
And certainly, the charm of coffee and the beautiful stories of the people surrounding it will spread further and further, forever with future generations...
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ca-phe-trung-thuc-qua-tinh-te-lang-sau-thi-vi-cua-nguoi-ha-noi-292725.html
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