Back in the kiddo days, Bạc Xỉu was my only coffee go-to (sweet, light, not too caffeinated). Basically, I loved it at first sip.
Funny thing, though—at this time, I had zero clue about the meaning behind “Bạc Xỉu” until my uni days in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
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Bạc Xỉu Coffee, the melting pot of 3 cultures in Sài Gòn
Modern Vietnamese cuisine features many French-Vietnamese fusion dishes that remain popular today, such as Bánh Mì and Vietnamese Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá).
Meanwhile, Saigon is the bustling trading and economic center in Southern Vietnam with a large population of both Vietnamese and Chinese ethnicities.
This cultural diversity is reflected in many Chinese-Vietnamese dishes in Sài Gòn Chợ Lớn (Saigon’s Chinatown) like Cơm Gà Hải Nam (Chicken and Rice), Bò Bía (Spring Rolls with Chinese Sausages) and Xôi Mặn (the Vietnamese version of Lo Mai Fan)
Bạc Xỉu is even more special; it was born right in the midst of the cultural fusion among the French, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
Bạc Xỉu is a shortened term derived from “Bạc Tẩy Xỉu Phé,” originating from the Cantonese community in Saigon.
It literally means “a cup of white with a dash of coffee”. No wonder Bạc Xỉu is also called White coffee.
Locals say that Bạc Xỉu was initially created for women and children who loved the aroma and flavors of coffee but couldn’t handle the strength of caffeine. Unsurprisingly, Bạc Xỉu was my favorite coffee when I was a little kid.
Ingredients
To make Bạc Xỉu, you will need:
- Vietnamese coffee with a high ratio of Robusta. You could use ground coffee or instant coffee.
- If you have the chance to visit Vietnam, coffee makes for a fantastic souvenir. I even have a collection of Vietnamese coffee brands that I highly recommend checking out.
- Condensed milk.
- Fresh milk.
- Ice cubes or crushed ice.
Related Recipes | Other Vietnamese coffee recipes if you are a coffee lover:
Instructions
- Brew your coffee using a phin filter.
- Mix condensed milk with fresh milk. Then, add some ice cubes or crushed ice.
- Pour the brewed coffee over the milk mixture.
- Give it a good stir, and voila! Enjoy your delicious Bạc Xỉu.
Helpful Tips
- In Vietnam, we often enjoy Bạc Xỉu in the morning alongside breakfast. My go-to combination is Bạc Xỉu paired with Vietnamese steamed buns (Bánh Bao) or Pandan Waffles (Bánh Kẹp Lá Dứa).
- For the vegan version, you could use plant-based milk and plant-based condensed milk.
- You can use leftover sweetened condensed milk to make various Vietnamese desserts like Bánh Khoai Mì Nướng (Cassava Cake) and Bánh Chuối Nướng (Banana Cake). It’s also great for Vietnamese BBQ dishes like Gà Nướng (Grilled Chicken).
Other Saigon Food Recipes
Bạc Xỉu (The Iconic Saigon’s White Coffee)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Vietnamese coffee (30ml)
- 2 tbsp condensed milk (30ml)
- ½ cup fresh milk (125ml)
- Ice cubes (or crushed ice) (to your taste)
Instructions
- Use a phin filter to brew your coffee.
- Combine condensed milk with fresh milk, then add some ice cubes or crushed ice.
- Pour the freshly brewed coffee over the milk mixture.
- Stir it well, and there you have it! Enjoy your delicious cup of Bạc Xỉu.
