thank you again for a wonderful travelogue and with recipes too! i am
happy....

Ripon wrote:
This afternoon, I was swimming in the Hotel Polana and suddenly heard
some people were speaking in Thai. I was in Thailand for 3 three and
half years and have a weakness about this beautiful country. Then I
saw two Thai guys are talking with each other about bribing a
government official. I went close to them and say- "Mai Di" "bad
idea". They were shocked and looked at me. I smiled and told them
about my Thailand experience and I speak Thai. Thai people never
expect any foreigner can speak their language well. My Thai is good,
I even know local slang. So, we have decided to have launch together.
Before meeting them, I had no idea that Maputo has Thai restaurants
which I miss a lot. On the way to the Thai restaurant "Thai spice"
(what a beautiful name) they told me they invested money with a local
fishing company which export big tiger shrimp and lobster in
Europe(got another opportunity to get some good shrimp and lobster-
The whole time, conversation was in Thai and they were shocked and
laughing with my Thai slang.

While I was checking the menu, I was little disappointed to see no
Chai yen(Thai iced tea) but they have Chai Lon(hot tea but Twining tea
bag). I was looking all over the menu if it was written some other
pages. My Thai friend understood, I am looking for something. They
asked me if I am looking for some special Thai dish. I said- Hell,
yes-Thai iced tea. They start laughing and went to talk with the
restaurant manager- who is mid 30's Thai woman, wearing a beautiful
traditional Thai dress. The background traditional Thai instrumental
music just made me so happy. My understanding is, the Thai community
is very small here and they know each other. The manager came and
apologies in English- "We are very sorry, we don't serve Thai iced
tea. if I really want some Thai iced tea, they can make a Twining
Ceylon OP with ice and milk." I understood my two new Thai friends
didn't tell her about my Thai background. I strait told her in Thai-
"you are offering me to change my name with yours. How can you
compare Thai Iced tea with Ceylon iced tea." First she was shocked
and burst with laughing and say -" they make Thai iced tea, only for
themselves but they can make a change in my case because I speak
Thai." I thought, I will take this chance in one step ahead. I asked
her to teach me how to make Thai iced tea and sell some Thai Black
tea from Changrai(Northern province in Thailand, border with China).
It is very difficult to get Thai black tea which makes the authentic
Thai iced tea. My Thai friend who used to supply me Thai black tea,
last year he moved in Australia. In Thai culture if you asked
something with good manner, they can never refuse. Thai people are
very kind and love to take care of foreigners. They are very proud of
their culture and country, unfortunately, many foreigners don't
respect their custom and culture and talk only about their red
district areas without knowing that Thailand has a very strong
manufacturing based industry which brings billions of dollar also
their number one industry. Her skin color was fair and yellow(real
Thais are brown and flat face) that means- she was Chinese-Thai and
drink Chinese tea. I also offered her- if she give me some Thai black
tea, I will give her some 20 years old Pu-erh, Xihu Qiqiang LongJin
Spring-2005 and top grade Tai Guan Yin. She looked at me and said-
"deal with some Xihu longJin." I know it wasn't a win-win deal,
according to the marketing term but I love Thai iced tea that much-

I had wonderful Thai food after long time. Lab Cai(the chicken salad),
Tom Yun Kung(Thai spicy shrimp soup), Pad Thai(Noodles), Khanom
Mu(Sweet and sour Pork), Ahan Thale(grilled sea food) etc. After
swimming when you are hungry and if you have you favorite dishes, what
else do you need in your life-

Anyway, I went to the kitchen and saw the whole process, how they make
authentic Thai iced tea. Here it is- free traditional Thai iced tea
recipe as a part of my gift to you from Mozambique( as a part because
I will always share whatever I learn-

Som(the manager, BTW Som means orange. Thai people can have name like
Mu(Pig), Kai(Chicken) etc. Don't ask me why- Som told me that most
of the Thai Iced teas are fake because they use flavor. Thai iced tea
recipe is very simple, all you need is- the real ingredients. Their
are two types of Thai Iced tea- 1)for regular drink, another 2)for
special day. Why special? Because of one extra ingredient they mix
is- little almond milk. She also told me that some Thai iced tea also
mix cinnamon and Cardamom but that is not authentic Thai recipe.
Where you gonna get real Thai black tea? I don't know but I have
found my way-

Ingredients:

Regular- Thai black tea steep five-seven minutes in water as black
tea 200F (you don't have to be so sensitive about tea leafs amount.
Just follow your taste- strong, medium or light). Pour the tea liquor
on crashed ice( very small pieces, not cubes). Then don't use
condensed or half-half milk, only evaporated milk. You can add sugar
if you like. Mix it, That's it.

Special- Follow the same process just add some extra almond milk.
that's it- She told me top Thai hotels make their iced tea with
Almond milk.

In Friday, we work unit afternoon in Maputo. I spend my time with them
from 1:30 PM until 9:30 PM, include free Thai dinner. They didn't want
to take money from me. Som, also offered me her restaurant cook can
teach me Thai cooking if I wish. Of course, I love to cook. I had
wonderful a day.

Sometimes I wonder- I was in Thailand for three and half years but
couldn't discover the traditional Thai iced tea recipe. Who knew after
eleven years, I will find the recipe in Africa- Mozambique. Now I am
thinking of the movie- "God must be crazy"- Have a wonderful weekend
with tea and if you wish, maybe next time Thai cooking recipe- I am
very happy today because I have found some generous Thai friends here.


Ripon
Maputo, Mozambique