The Land of Smiles has been tea country for many centuries but has quickly succumbed to the aromatic seduction of coffee, which was introduced by the Americans during World War II. In fact, in the last few decades, coffee plantations have sprouted in various parts of Thailand, even in the island of Phuket!
Thai Royals Embrace Coffee
Aside from the irresistible sensory experience coffee provides, a major reason for the growth of the coffee culture in Thailand is due to the royals. The country’s Royal Family, led by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, backed a coffee growing program in the early 60s.
The main aim of this effort was to help Thailand, especially the hill tribes in the north, leave opium production behind through a number of profitable and positive agricultural alternatives, like coffee. This move was lauded by the UN; in fact, the Princess Mother’s coffee brand was awarded a seal from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Coffee Became a Hit among the Thailanders
Apparently, it was not hard to promote coffee drinking. The people quickly took to the aromatic, rich flavor of coffee. Although, in the beginning, they had to dilute it with grains (kafae boran) or sugar, ice, and milk (kafae yen) to make the drink more affordable. Understandably, the arrival of instant coffee was welcomed with open arms and became the popular choice.
Specialty Thai Coffee
Around 2004 to 2005, specialty coffee began to emerge in Thailand via stand-alone shops and cafes mostly run by locals who had worked and lived outside the country. Despite the higher markup of the higher-quality coffee, Thais managed to warm up to these varieties and even make room in their wallets for such special cups.
Today, you can see coffee carts and cafes everywhere you go in Thailand. Bangkok and Chiang Mai are considered the coffee capitals of the country, with both cities hosting a wealth of establishments offering specialty cups. In fact, a number of the cafes in both cities are embedded in cosmetic shops, mobile establishments, and even clothing stores.
One thing you will notice when you enjoy a cup of coffee in one of such cafes is that the preparation takes a bit more time than in coffee shops in other countries. That’s because coffee beans in Thailand are most often ground by hand – it’s part of the local coffee tradition.
As such, it’s not wise to order coffee for take out if you are in a rush. In Thailand, a cup of quality coffee needs to be enjoyed with time to spare as the bean grinding is done by hand. This also explains a lot of coffee places in Bangkok advertise their offering as “fresh-brewed” coffee (kafae sot).
All about the Beans
Of course, not all coffee served in Thailand’s cafes are of the same caliber. You’ll know a good one by the quality of the beans used and the preparation of the cup of coffee itself. You can find out by chatting with the baristas – the ones from reputable cafes know what they serve (not all do, by the way). One of the most critical indicators is when the shop is involved in the coffee growing industry and not just merely receiving batches of beans from suppliers.
So, have you tried a cup in the Land of Smiles yet?