The Ultimate Vietnamese Beverage: A Taste Sensation that Leaves Westerners “Shaking”!

“Coffee drunk” is a colloquial term used to describe the body’s reaction to an excessive amount of caffeine intake. Common symptoms include shaky hands and feet, a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and sometimes restlessness and difficulty concentrating. This is a natural reaction for those unaccustomed to the strong Vietnamese coffee, especially Robusta coffee – the predominant type used in Vietnamese coffee culture.

After this story went viral, many Vietnamese netizens quickly shared similar experiences of their own or those of their loved ones and friends. This shows that “coffee drunk” is not unique to foreign tourists but is also quite common among Vietnamese people.

“Our company manager is so sensitive that he gets coffee drunk from instant coffee. He was bedridden for the entire afternoon,” shared a social media user.

Another person commented: “I’m the same; I get coffee drunk too, but if I eat a full meal before drinking coffee, I’m fine.”

“Eat first, then drink coffee,” advised another netizen.

A more detailed comment described the specific symptoms of “coffee drunk”: “When I get coffee drunk, my heart races, my hands and feet go weak, I feel dizzy, I sometimes stutter, and I can’t sleep that night.”

These shares not only show empathy but also offer valuable advice for anyone who wants to enjoy this distinctive Vietnamese drink properly.

The Status of Vietnamese Coffee in the World of Gastronomy

It’s no coincidence that Vietnamese coffee has such a strong appeal to international visitors. As the world’s largest producer of Robusta coffee and the second-largest exporter of coffee globally (after Brazil), Vietnam has established its position in the international coffee industry.

Particularly, the distinctive aroma and robust flavor of the renowned Buon Ma Thuot Robusta coffee beans have helped Vietnamese coffee gain worldwide recognition and acclaim. A notable achievement was on the culinary website Taste Atlas – dubbed the “gastronomic map of the world” – where Vietnamese iced milk coffee ranked second in the Top 10 most highly rated coffee drinks globally, with an impressive score of 4.6/5, just behind Italian Ristretto.

In recent years, Vietnamese coffee has continuously been honored and praised by reputable international media outlets, affirming its growing influence in the global market.

In 2022, the Canadian travel magazine The Travel listed Vietnam as the top country with the best coffee in the world, a clear testament to the superior quality of Vietnamese coffee.

Earlier, in 2020, CNN published an article titled “Why the world is waking up to Vietnamese coffee,” introducing Vietnamese coffee as a popular drink with various brewing methods and affirming its growing popularity among coffee enthusiasts worldwide.

Not only CNN but also the prestigious newspaper The New York Times has shown a particular interest in Vietnamese coffee by publishing an article titled “In Vietnam, Coffee Culture Brims With New Energy” in March 2020. The article highly appreciated Vietnamese coffee as a thriving national brand, with diverse and unique flavors hard to find anywhere else in the world.

From “Coffee Drunk” to a Unique Cultural Experience

Returning to the story of the foreign guest who got the “shakes” after drinking Vietnamese coffee, this incident is not just a humorous situation but also a testament to the distinct difference in coffee drinking cultures between Vietnam and many other parts of the world.

Vietnamese coffee, especially traditional black coffee or iced milk coffee, is usually brewed with a higher concentration of caffeine than many Western coffees. Combined with the unique drip method, each drop of coffee that passes through the fine powder creates a robust and harmoniously bitter-sweet flavor that cannot be found anywhere else.

This explains why many international visitors, especially those from Western countries – where they are typically used to the milder Arabica coffee, may experience “coffee drunk” when first experiencing this characteristic drink of Vietnam.

Tips for Newcomers to Vietnamese Coffee

Based on the sharing from the online community, here are some helpful tips for those who want to enjoy Vietnamese coffee without getting “coffee drunk”:

– Eat a full meal before drinking coffee to slow down the body’s absorption of caffeine.

– Start with a small amount and gradually increase it to let your body adjust.

– Dilute it with more water or add extra ice to reduce the caffeine concentration.

– Avoid drinking coffee in the evening if your body is sensitive to caffeine.

– Drink plenty of water to counteract the effects of caffeine.

These suggestions will help not only international visitors but also Vietnamese people who are unaccustomed to the strong traditional coffee to fully enjoy this unique flavor without experiencing unwanted reactions.

The story of the foreign guest who got the “shakes” after drinking Vietnamese coffee is not just a humorous anecdote but also reflects the cultural differences and culinary peculiarities of Vietnam. Vietnamese coffee, with its robust flavor and distinctive drinking style, has been and continues to conquer the hearts of many international visitors, sometimes quite literally making them “shake.”

Over time, Vietnamese coffee has solidified its place on the world’s gastronomic map, not just as an ordinary beverage but as a cultural symbol and a bridge connecting visitors to the country and people of Vietnam.