'Pulled Malaysia Tea' makes inroad in Bangkok

BANGKOK: Pulled Malaysian Milk Tea" may sound very unfamiliar especially in the heart of this city.

Actually it is the famous Malaysian "teh tarik" but literally translated into English by business owner Lincoln Lim, a Malaysian who owns 18 "teh tarik" kiosks in this capital.

"I want to differentiate our "teh tarik" from other types of tea sold in this country and I want to have the word "Malaysian" in the menu," said Lim, who is the managing director of Great Asia Co Ltd.

He is one of five stall operators representing Malaysia at the Asian Food Festival here.  "Normally I sell it for 40 Baht (about RM4) per cup but today I am selling it for 50 Baht as part of the money will go to charity," Lim said.

Meanwhile, Malaysian-Thai Chamber of Commerce director Steve Cheah said the three-day festival which started today was organised by chambers of commerce from Asian countries for the first time.

"We want to promote authentic Asian cuisines to the Thais," he said.

Another Malaysian, Fahmi Sabri, who owns the Cili Padi Restaurant here, said his restaurant is promoting Nasi Lemak, Chicken Rendang and Mee Goreng at the festival.  "The Thais love the three dishes," he said.

Chotika Obsuwan, a Thai woman, is serving Malaysian satay at the festival.

"I got help from a Malaysian consultant in preparing the satay which is different in texture and aroma from the local satay," she said.

Popiah and cendol, two other popular Malaysian dishes, are being promoted by Georgette Siew William, a Malaysian who owned a kopitiam shop here previously but is now focusing on food catering.

"All the ingredients are sourced locally except for brown sugar which I have to import from Malaysia because it is very difficult to get the item here," she said.

Apart from Malaysian cuisines, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Indian and Korean cuisines are also being promoted at the festival held at Imperial Hotel here. -- BERNAMA