It’s monsoon season here, the thirsty parched land has transformed into variant shades of vibrant green from the patchwork of rice paddies, majestic teak trees, jungle overgrowth, to the backdrop of mountains towering as mighty guardians surrounding the city. The rain pouring steadily off the rooftops like mini waterfalls are impartial to skyscraper, mansion, house or hut, pausing only enough for the sun to blink. The richness of colour creates a breath of fresh air. The cool rain relieving the torture of the hot, humid temperature of the dry season that preceded it. Chiang Mai has come alive again.
Aahh! With such a glorious view before me, and my hands wrapped around a soothing warm mug, there is nothing better than to wake up to the whiff of freshly brewed coffee. As avid coffee drinkers, we all love our coffee. Whatever your routine may be, either savouring the first cup of home brew in the stillness of the dawn breaking; or scrambling out the door with coffee in a travel flask; or coffee on the go with a rush through the drive-thru; or sitting in a coffee shop with laptop and cup, we need our coffee. We need it to not only function on a basic sane humane level, but also because it is one of those nuances that makes life doable.
In all the many ways we can drink it, the most used phrase is ‘the usual please’. In its multi-varied forms with names to match, coffee is as unique as our individuality. That is the beauty of it. It is such a integral part of our everyday lives that it has become a culture in itself, and an art form. There are memes by the millions feeding this culture. The size of your cup determines your position on the leader board. And, sorry no, Decaf doesn’t make the grade, it’s not real coffee.
The coffee culture is booming and has spread it’s wings into Asia. South-East Asia is renowned for its teas, however, coffee is fast becoming a popular drink not only among the swarm of digital nomads and tourists that frequent Thailand, but also among the local Thais. With the onset of the CoVid-19 pandemic and frequent lockdowns, many businesses were forced to shut down, even a few of the mall giants. Yet somehow, coffee has survived and come out strong. Cafes and coffee shops are popping up throughout Chiang Mai left, right and centre. You can see coffee carts, quaint cafes, and little shops serving coffees tucked in the corner of some back street. Each with a character of its own. Small business here has come out the winner in the crisis. To keep in with the competition, Coffee Fairs are a sought out event in the big malls.
Chiang Mai has become Thailand’s new Coffee Central. Its awesome array of mountains hold the perfect atmosphere to grow quality coffee and are tattooed all over with coffee plantations. In the past, coffee was seen only as a export product, not so today.
Many countries around the globe have made their mark on the coffee world. Chiang Mai is coming up fast around the bend. Can Chiang Mai’s coffee production meet the demands of the international market? That is yet a factor undetermined, however, Chiang Mai City itself is not lacking in quantity or quality. Chiang Mai’s mountain coffee is a serious rival for the coffee dynasty Starbucks in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I love Starbucks Coffee as a treat on occasion when I can afford it, and you can see me as a sort of regular customer wherever a Starbucks is located. Yet, the local coffee, especially from the mountain regions, though limited in supply, tops them all. So, if you are craving to experience this superb black gold, book Chiang Mai as your next travel destination. I will see you soon.
Copyright 2022. Rebecca Laklem
2 comments
That read was enticing, fun and luscious. The exact feeling I get when taking a sip of a goooood coffee. Great writing here.
Now that I have sampled coffee named after major destinations of the world, isn’t it time we have a brew name after this beautiful place called Chiangmai.