Teh Tarik, also known as flying tea, is a type of milk tea created by the Malaysian people. It originated from Indians who immigrated to Malaysia and gradually became the most popular and most commonly consumed tea-containing beverage by Malaysians. This beverage is not only a popular drink, but also a unique expression of tea culture.
Malaysian Teh Tarik selects Malaysian black tea, Dutch imported milk powder and cinnamon powder, mixes the three in a certain proportion, and pours them into a stainless steel can with a handle. The can has a capacity of about one liter. The production process of Teh Tarik includes using two large tea pots, mixing the brewed tea with condensed milk, pouring it down from a high place, and repeatedly making the action of Teh Tarik to make the tea and condensed milk more fully mixed. This production technique not only improves the taste of Teh Tarik, but also allows the tea and milk aroma to be fully utilized, and finally presents a smooth taste.
The main ingredients of Teh Tarik are tea leaves and condensed milk, and sometimes a little cinnamon powder and other spices are added to increase the flavor. Depending on the tea leaves, Teh Tarik has different flavors. For example, Teh Tarik made from Thai black tea has a strong milky flavor. In addition, there are many flavors such as Indian original milk flavor, Silky heavy milk flavor, Earl Grey black tea flavor, etc.
In Malaysia, Teh Tarik is an indispensable drink in people's daily life. Whether in luxury hotels and bars in big cities or in the streets and alleys of remote towns, you can drink delicious Teh Tarik. Teh Tarik has also been adapted into songs and dances and performed on stage. On the stage full of Nanyang style, accompanied by light and slow playing and melodious southern music, the singers and dancers hold tea cans and dance gracefully, performing Teh Tarik movements vividly in graceful dance steps.
1. Calories and energy
Teh Tarik contains a certain amount of calories, which mainly come from tea polyphenols and caffeine in tea leaves and sugar and fat in added condensed milk or fresh milk. Different Teh Tarik brands and production methods will result in different calories, but generally speaking, Teh Tarik has relatively high calories, so it is necessary to control the amount when drinking it to avoid excessive intake of calories and weight gain.
2. Carbohydrates
The carbohydrates in Teh Tarik mainly come from lactose in condensed milk or fresh milk and possible added sugars. Carbohydrates are one of the important sources of energy for the human body, but excessive intake will also be converted into fat and stored. Therefore, when drinking Teh Tarik, you need to pay attention to controlling the intake of sugar and carbohydrates.
3. Fat
The fat in Teh Tarik mainly comes from milk fat in condensed milk or fresh milk. Fat is one of the essential nutrients for the human body, but excessive intake increases the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. Therefore, when choosing Teh Tarik, you can try to choose low-fat or skimmed condensed milk or fresh milk to reduce fat intake.
4. Protein
The protein in Teh Tarik mainly comes from condensed milk or fresh milk. Protein is one of the important components of human tissues and organs, and is also a component of biologically active substances such as human enzymes and hormones. A moderate intake of protein helps maintain normal physiological functions of the human body.
5. Other nutrients
In addition to the above main nutrients, Teh Tarik may also contain some other nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, etc. Although these nutrients are relatively small in content, they also play a certain role in maintaining human health.
Precautions
Drink in moderation: Since Teh Tarik contains high calories and sugar, it is recommended to drink in moderation to avoid excessive intake leading to weight gain or other health problems.
Choose healthy ingredients: When choosing Teh Tarik, you can try to choose low-fat or skimmed condensed milk or fresh milk, and reduce the amount of sugar added to reduce calorie and fat intake.
Match with a balanced diet: Although Teh Tarik has certain nutritional value, it cannot be used as the main source of nutrition. Therefore, while drinking Teh Tarik, you also need to pay attention to a balanced diet and consume enough vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other foods rich in dietary fiber and vitamins.
The process of making Teh Tarik is unique and full of ritual, combining tradition to create a drink with a rich taste and overflowing milky aroma. The following is the process of making Teh Tarik:
1. Prepare the ingredients
Tea: Use Ceylon black tea and black tea powder, which is the key ingredient for making Teh Tarik.
Water: 1000ml.
Condensed milk: 150-230ml.
2. Boil tea
Put tea leaves and tea powder into a boiling pot and boil for 7 minutes. Then use a fine filter to filter the tea into a kettle.
3. First time pulling tea
Put condensed milk into the teapot and pull the tea 4 times to fully release the tea aroma.
4. Second time pulling tea
Boil the milk tea for 5 minutes for the second time, and then pull the tea 4 times to make the tea soup more rich.
5. Third time pulling tea
Boil for another 5 minutes for the third time, and finally pull the tea 4 times to ensure that the taste and flavor of the tea soup are the best. Then pour it into a cup and enjoy it while it is hot.
Generally speaking, the process of making Teh Tarik requires certain skills and patience. When pouring Teh Tarik, the distance should be 1 meter, and the technical requirements are relatively high. In addition to the strict requirements on ingredients, the key technology of making Teh Tarik is "pulling". It is precisely because of the repeated pulling of tea soup that the tea soup and condensed milk are mixed more fully, and the milk particles are broken by repeated pouring and impact, forming an emulsified state, so that it can be organically combined with the tea soup, and the tea and milk aromas can be fully exerted. When you first learn to make Teh Tarik, you can pour it slowly, and then gradually stretch it. You can master the skills after doing it several times.
Teh Tarik is one of the most common and popular national drinks in Malaysia. Teh Tarik is not only a milk tea created by the Malaysian people, but also an important part of Malaysian culture. With the rise of the tea culture movement internationally, tea art culture in Malaysia has gradually integrated into the public life. Tea culture activities and exchanges with the purpose of promoting spiritual civilization, enriching multicultural space, and practicing the artistic conception of humanistic life have played a good role in promoting cultural exchanges and racial integration among ethnic groups in a country like Malaysia with diverse ethnic groups and different social and cultural traditions, and have been recognized by the country and people of all ethnic groups.
It is in this environment that Malaysian Teh Tarik has been adapted into a song and dance and performed on the Chinese stage. On a stage full of Nanyang atmosphere, accompanied by light strumming and melodious southern music, Teh Tarik performances have almost become a popular and traditional program on the Malaysian stage, just like the tea picking dance on the Chinese stage, which is widely loved and welcomed by the masses.
The cultural significance of Teh Tarik lies in its ornamental and social functions. The cultural heritage of Teh Tarik is now more than a traditional drink. It is more about the fun of watching the process of milk tea making, bringing the unique food culture of Southeast Asia to the world and realizing food without borders. This has greatly increased its popularity, breaking through the traditional sales model of milk tea that only focuses on taste, giving people more room for imagination. "Drinking a cup of Teh Tarik and watching a Teh Tarik show every day" has become a daily habit of Southeast Asian residents.
