Teh tarik

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Teh tarik (literally pulled tea or 拉茶 in Mandarin) is a type of tea which can be bought in restaurants, outdoor stalls and kopi tiams in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. It is often compared to cappuccino because of its frothy top. The main ingredients are tea and condensed milk. Ginger water may also be added to form teh halia, or ginger tea. It has become the de facto national drink of Malaysia. In Malaysia, there are also occasions where teh tarik brewers gather for competitions and performances to show their skills in making this drink.

This tea is special in that it is prepared using a unique technique. The tea is poured from a hand held high into a container held in a hand below. The tea is poured back and forth in this manner to create a thick froth. Aside from cooling down the tea to drinking temperatures, it is believed that this method mixes the tea with the condensed milk more thoroughly.

An element of showmanship also exists in the preparation of teh tarik, the ability to drag a long stream of tea well over their heads is an amusing novelty for the locals and tourists alike.

The same technique can be used to make kopi tarik, the coffee equivalent of teh tarik.