As a tourist, you're probably excited to check out Vietnam's famous coffee culture. But let's be honest: a typical phin-dripped Robusta may be rather strong. If you adore the notion of Vietnamese coffee but find the strong, dark-roast taste too much, Bac Xiu is your new best buddy.
What is Bac Xiu?
Pronounced: Bahk-See-you.
You're in a bustling Hanoi cafe. You love the smell of the dark coffee being dripped at the table next to you, but you're apprehensive. The intensity is just too much.
In short: Bac Xiu is a Vietnamese coffee drink that contains more milk than coffee.
Unlike its world-famous cousin, ca phe sua da, which is a shot of strong coffee balanced with sweet milk, Bac Xiu flips the ratio on its head. It’s a glass of milk (both condensed and fresh) "stained" with a small amount of coffee.
The name itself tells the whole story. It comes from the Cantonese phrase "Bạc Tẩy Xỉu Phé" (白仔小啡), which was popular in Saigon's Chinese community.
- Bạc (白): White / Milk
- Tẩy (仔): A glass or cup
- Xỉu (小): A little
- Phé (啡): Coffee
Put it all together, and you have "a glass of white (milk) with a little coffee." It’s a beautifully descriptive name that perfectly captures the drink's gentle, approachable nature.
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