If you’ve ever been to Vietnam, you’ve undoubtedly seen small carts selling Nước Mía. Nước Mía is Sugarcane juice, and we recommend it as an essential drink. These carts are usually covered in neon colors, so they are hard to miss. You might think a cup of cane juice is an unhealthy sugar overload, but it isn’t. This sweet juice is made by crushing sugar cane stalks in a machine, manual or electric. In hot climates like Vietnam, people know that sugarcane juice is a delicious and cheap natural drink. Therefore, sugarcane juice is so popular in Vietnam and is available from most small street stalls, it is often sold with other popular drinks.
So what is it and why is it so popular? And where can you buy this drink? Let’s answer all these questions with us now.
How is sugarcane juice made?
Vietnam is one of the main sugar cane producers in the world. This is why sugarcane juice is such a popular drink in Vietnam, especially on tough summer days. Local people often call him “nước mía”. After cutting and peeling, the sugar canes are cut into 50-centimeter segments. Vendors often use a manual or electric machine to extract the juice from these sugar canes. Each segment is placed between the two opposite rotating rollers of the machine.
For the manual machine, sellers need to use their hand to roll. The process is easier with an electric machine because you only need to press the start button and you’re done. The juice is extracted and drained into a large mug while the grinding residue is discarded. The ingredients to make a cup of sugarcane juice are very simple, using only peeled sugarcane. At some stalls, vendors will add kumquat to create a citrus scent and increase the sweet taste of the juice, taking it to a whole new level.
How does sugarcane juice look like in Vietnam?
There was a vendor who made freshly squeezed sugarcane juice. Previously, cane juice was sold in small plastic bags filled with ice and tied at the open end with a rubber band around a straw. Buyers could then suck the drink through the straw. There has been a move to sell sugarcane juice in white foam glasses and it has a slight lime flavor as seen in Vietnam today.
Why is sugarcane juice popular?
Cheap price. This drink does not cost you much to have a cup. In search of a cheap and nutritious drink, sugarcane juice in Vietnam should not be ignored. The price is only 10,000 VND – 15,000 VND depends on the size you want. In some stalls you can add another fruit, the price will be around 15,000 to 25,000 VND.
Recently made
Because it is an instant drink, it is freshly made. Most sellers don’t do this until customers buy it. They usually make the juice when they receive orders. It would take 2 to 3 stalks of cane sugar to make half a liter of cane juice.
Good for your health
Although its price is very economical, sugarcane juice is extremely good for health. With plenty of nutritional value, it can boost your energy after a long day wandering the streets. If you feel tired and thirsty, let’s try the sugarcane juice, you will be awake for sure. There are many proteins, antioxidants, and minerals in a cup of juice. This means that it is very beneficial for your skin and helps you prevent pimples and acne.