Bạc Xỉu and The Origins of This Saigon Coffee Style

Amidst Vietnam’s rich coffee culture, a standout gem is the Bạc Xỉu. Discover the art of creating this specialty as it’s done in Vietnam. Dive into the world of Bạc Xỉu with our step-by-step guide.

Why do we call “Bạc tẩy xỉu phé”?

“Bạc tẩy xỉu phé” refers to a type of beverage made from coffee with added milk, but with a higher proportion of milk than coffee. In this context, ‘bạc’ means white, “tẩy” means an empty glass, “xỉu” means “a bit”, and “phé” means coffee. In essence, it is a hot milk-based drink with a hint of coffee.

‘Bạc tẩy xỉu phé’ originates from Cantonese and became widely popular among the Chinese community in the trading areas of Saigon – Cholon at that time.

Later on, it was shortened to just ‘bạc xỉu,’ a beverage with a higher ratio of milk to coffee. This is different from ‘cà phê sữa,’ where the ratio of coffee to milk is higher. ‘Bạc xỉu’ can be served hot or iced, making it suitable for those who prefer less caffeine but still enjoy its delightful flavor.

The Origins of this Saigon Coffee Style

Bạc xỉu can be considered as a beverage that blends three cultural influences: Chinese – French – Vietnamese. During the French colonial period in Vietnam (1858 – 1954), the Chinese community in Saigon seemed to be pioneers in the food and beverage business, including coffee shops.

In the early days, women and children were not interested in black coffee and milk coffee because they had a bitter taste, making them challenging to drink. At times, fresh milk was relatively expensive, so condensed milk was used with hot water as a substitute.

Gradually, the intense bitterness of coffee seemed to fade away, giving birth to ‘bạc xỉu’ (due to using more milk than coffee, reducing bitterness, and imparting a distinctive aroma). Furthermore, ‘bạc xỉu’ is often enjoyed with deep-fried dough sticks and sesame balls every morning.

A Good Memory from The Childhood of Saigonese People

For the Saigonese, bạc xỉu has become a familiar beverage. Children from the era when bạc xỉu originated now view it as a beautiful and memorable childhood memory. When accompanying their parents to coffee shops, they never forget to try a cup of bạc xỉu with the slight bitterness of coffee and the rich, sweet taste of milk.

Saigonese girls at that time also considered bạc xỉu an appealing drink, having eliminated much of the bitterness of coffee with hot milk. For the people of Saigon, bạc xỉu is a beverage that connects with coffee enthusiasts.

One interesting thing is that the old generation had a unique way of enjoying bạc xỉu. They consumed it hot instead of adding ice, like nowadays. Many dipped deep-fried dough sticks and sesame balls into the steaming cup of bạc xỉu turning it into a perfect breakfast with both nutrition and irresistible flavor.

Today, only a few places serve bạc xỉu with the authentic taste of old Saigon. The younger generation now enjoys bạc xỉu in various innovative ways. For example, adding ice to enhance the flavor, stimulating the taste buds, or blending it with coconut milk to increase richness and sweetness.

Regardless of the method of enjoyment, bạc xỉu remains a distinctive beverage that represents the coffee culture in Saigon.

How to Make Your Bạc Xỉu at Home

To create delicious and authentic cups of bạc xỉu, follow these steps:

Prepare the Ingredients

• Phin black coffee: 30ml

• Condensed milk: 30ml

• Unsweetened fresh milk: 100ml

• Tools: Egg beater, cream frother (or frothing tool)

Making Bạc Xỉu

• Firstly, let’s prepare the coffee. Use a coffee filter to brew 30ml of coffee.

• Place ice in the glass, adjust the quantity based on personal preference, then add 30ml of condensed milk into the ice-filled glass.

• Add a bit more ice on top and pour in fresh milk according to your liking. For those who prefer hot ‘bạc xỉu,’ you may skip adding ice and use hot condensed milk instead.

• Additionally, for a more aromatic and sweet ‘bạc xỉu,’ you can add around 5ml of coconut milk. It enhances the flavor and aroma splendidly.

• After brewing the coffee, manually or with a machine, froth it until the bubbles are smooth to your liking.

• Slowly pour the frothy coffee into the glass with ice or prepared hot milk.

• Finally, you can enjoy your homemade ‘bạc xỉu’ right at home.

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