Freshly made roadside treats are one of the perks of life in Southeast Asia. Whether it’s fresh sliced tropical fruit, taro fritters, a just-grilled fish, or a frothy, fruity drink — it’s great to be able to make a pit stop to quench your thirst, or satiate your inner snack beast quickly and on the cheap.
One of our favorites in Southern Thailand: sugarcane juice. We came across this duo performing the whole process from scratch in a little enclave of roadside sellers in Phuket — though if you keep an eye out, you’re likely to find them in roadside food markets all over.
It had obviously been a busy day for these sellers. They had a near-mountain of sugarcane debris beside their hand grinder, and a stamped down pile beside that was being used to soak up puddles from a recent rain.
So, ordering: It’s pretty simple. There’s only one thing on the menu, and you’re lookin’ at it. The juice comes in two sizes — THB20/US$0.63 for a regular, or THB30/US$.094 for a large. The guy behind the grinder will grab a sugarcane stalk and put it through the machine while his partner grabs your cup and scoops some ice. Then they pour up the pale yellow, frothy liquid, and that’s it.
Super simple, and super fresh.
If you’ve never had fresh sugarcane juice, it’s highly refreshing. And, surprisingly — far less sweet than, say, a fresh mango juice. It also has a slightly green, fresh flavor, kind of reminiscent of freshly cut grass (but, the tropical version of that.)
It’s even better if you can find a seller using natural bamboo cups. Or, if you’re an eco-conscious type, then take our your own reusable bottle or cup, since this drink (like many drinks in Thailand) creates a lot of plastic waste. Enjoy responsibly, eh?
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