ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Teh tarik

Teh tarik is a type of tea that is really popular in Malaysia and Singapore. Imagine you are at a special place called a tea stall. The person who makes teh tarik is called a "pak teh" or tea master.

First, the pak teh takes a special tea called black tea, which is really good for making teh tarik. He puts the tea leaves in a big pot with boiling water. The pot is big because he wants to make a lot of teh tarik for all the people who want to drink it. He lets the tea leaves brew for a little while so that the tea becomes really yummy and strong.

Once the tea is ready, the pak teh adds a special ingredient called condensed milk. This is a sweet and creamy milk that makes teh tarik taste really nice. He pours the condensed milk into the pot of tea and stirs it all together so that the milk mixes well with the tea. The tea now turns a beautiful caramel color and smells amazing.

Now comes the fun part – "tarik" means "pull" in Malay. The pak teh uses a big metal cup on one hand and a big metal jug on the other hand. He pours the tea from the pot into the jug and from the jug into the cup. He does this back and forth in a really cool way. It looks like he is pouring the tea from way up high and then pulling it down really fast. This is why it is called "pulling tea", or teh tarik.

When the pak teh pours the tea back and forth, it creates a lot of bubbles on top of the tea. These bubbles make the tea taste even better because they make it all foamy and creamy. The pak teh keeps pouring the tea back and forth until it becomes really frothy and bubbly.

Finally, the pak teh pours the teh tarik from the cup into a glass and you get to drink it. The tea is still warm and feels really good when you take a sip. It tastes sweet from the condensed milk and has a little bit of bitterness from the black tea. The bubbles on top make it feel like you are drinking a special treat.

People love drinking teh tarik because it is not just about the taste, but also because they can watch the pak teh pour and pull the tea. It is like a little show just for you! So, the next time you see a teh tarik stall, you can enjoy a delicious and fun cup of teh tarik just like the people in Malaysia and Singapore do.
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