(Welcome Drinks)
There are certain things in life which we almost take for granted, for example how many of us remember our hotels and their greetings of welcome as we sit or stand gingerly waiting patiently to complete the necessary formalities of checking in. A tedious and tiring necessity no doubt. After travelling thousands of miles when fatigue hunger and sleep engulf you a bearer walks in balancing a tray with tall glasses of something colorful and refreshing with ice cubes and fancy cocktail umbrellas. Gratefully, we take the offered glasses and drink! Thirst quenched we go up to our respective rooms and forget about the tray and glasses. Our vacation begins! (Welcome Drinks)
Also Read: Shwe Yin Aye- A Summer Delicacy from Myanmar
I have observed that earlier tourist places served the ubiquitous canned pineapple juice, orange juice or lemon squash upon a guest’s arrival, gradually some even started introducing ‘ Aam panna,’ mixed fruit juice, tetra package lychee juice, Mazaa mango, frooti mango and the like. (Welcome Drinks)
On my first trip to Gangtok Sikkim, upon entering the hotel as a welcome drink we were offered the Zong wine in tiny wine glasses, we were assured it’s safe, made of damson fruit. Something to remember! A welcome drink is a beverage offered to guests upon their arrival create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. It’s a common gesture of hospitality. (Welcome Drinks)
“In Yangon, you can order a popular Indian drink known as a lassi. Banana or mango blended with yogurt and spices and poured over ice makes a cool nectar.”
Popular welcome drinks include simple mocktails, cocktails, juices, or water. Usually our vacation is taken during the summer, be it in India or abroad and our love for the South East Asia inevitably take us to places like Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali and Singapore. Summer in all these countries are stupendously hot, humid and at times very uncomfortable. Morning sightseeing are fun but the best thing is when we return to our respective hotels the cool glasses of drinks served were absolutely heaven. Fresh fruit juices such as pineapple, mango, watermelon, and lime available around the country made more interesting are quite novel, refreshing and tasty in the balmy weather. (Welcome Drinks)
In Yangon, you can order a popular Indian drink known as a lassi. Banana or mango blended with yogurt and spices and poured over ice makes a cool nectar. It’s a lovely way to rejuvenate after walking around in the hot midday sun. (Welcome Drinks)
“Yangon street foods are a treat but in your next visit you must try the array of fresh fruit juices.”
There are certain things in life which we almost take for granted, for example how many of us remember our booked hotels and their greetings of welcome as we sit or stand gingerly waiting patiently to complete the necessary formalities of checking in. A tedious and tiring necessity no doubt. After travelling thousands of miles when fatigue hunger and sleep engulf you a bearer walks in balancing a tray with tall glasses of something colorful and refreshing with ice cubes and fancy cocktail umbrellas. Gratefully we take the offered glasses and drink! Thirst quenched we go up to our respective rooms and forget about the tray and glasses. Our vacation begins! (Welcome Drinks)
Yangon street foods are a treat but in your next visit you must try the array of fresh fruit juices. I simply adored their fresh durian fruit juice, avocado smoothie, freshly machine pressed sugarcane juice, banana milkshake, our very own lassi thick and creamy with swirls of palm jaggery syrup, not to mention the sweet strawberry milkshake. What took me by surprise is during one of our visits to Mandalay our hotel kept handing us glass after glass of a strange, sweet and tangy drink which we found so refreshing. (Welcome Drinks)
“This shows how an ordinary fruit juice can become a Gourmet specialty by becoming a little more innovative, experimental and creative. A chef’s joy and a drinker’s delight.”
I caught hold of a young pretty receptionist and asked her what that drink was, she replied it’s pineapple with lemon grass and capsicum juice with a dash of lemon and ginger to keep the heat at bay. Pattaya had another surprise, every time we entered the foyer after our morning trips sightseeing an enormous glass jar with tinkling ice cubes sat Ona corner table and the drink was so unique it left us wanting for more. It’s green coconut water with lemon grass! Can you imagine it? (Welcome Drinks)
This shows how an ordinary fruit juice can become a Gourmet specialty by becoming a little more innovative, experimental and creative. A chef’s joy and a drinker’s delight. It is only for this reason we end up spending our vacation anywhere in the south East countries. Their street food, a variety of exotic fruits, juices ,the sun, the sand and the sea, other forms of entertainment catered for the tourists become secondary if you wish to enjoy this kind of holiday then head straight to the far eastern places. (Welcome Drinks)
Image Courtesy: Author, Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Flickr
Chanda Dutt is a home-cook and Burmese cuisine expert based in Kolkata. Her pop-ups are quite popular among the food lovers in the city. She briefly ran a Burmese cuisine restaurant called Chanda's Khawksuey.
