Cover Teh Tarik is Malaysia's unofficial national drink (Photo: Teh Tarik Nation)
Teh Tarik is Malaysia's unofficial national drink (Photo: Teh Tarik Nation)
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From the craftsmen behind Beca Tea comes Teh Tarik Nation
While the idea of curating a beverage brand around Malaysia’s national drink first started out as an inside joke between the founders of Beca Tea, this soon became a reality as PC Koh and his wife Rin Rin Wong soon realised how deeply rooted teh tarik was within Malaysian heritage. “Teh tarik seemed somewhat out of place within our menu filled with tea mixology, but it quickly became one of the drinks people kept coming back for,” Koh smiles.
The more the husband-and-wife duo watched people order the drink, the more they realised that this wasn’t just another tea blend on the menu. “Teh tarik is one of the most recognisable drinks in Malaysia,” he continues. “It is served everywhere, from roadside mamaks to five-star hotels, and almost every Malaysian has a memory attached to a cup.”
Above The fourth and fifth generations of the Koh family (Photo: Beca Tea)
The fourth and fifth generations of the Koh family (Photo: Beca Tea)
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Yet, in a world with an abundance of Japanese matcha cafes, Thai tea brands, and Taiwanese bubble tea stalls, there is no dedicated teh tarik specialist. “Teh tarik has a history and story every bit as rich as other drinks that have travelled far beyond their country of origin, but it has remained largely within Malaysia,” Wong says.
As they tell me the story of teh tarik, it becomes clear it is the story of the country itself. Traced back to the Indian Muslim community during the British colonial period, condensed milk which was more commonplace in local life replaced the traditional dairy milk in the strong tea. “This is also where the iconic pulling technique was born that cools, aerates, and blends the tea into the cup we know today,” she grins.
Above Teh Tarik Nation offers innovative iterations of the traditional beverage, including ice slushies (Photo: Teh Tarik Nation)
Teh Tarik Nation offers innovative iterations of the traditional beverage, including ice slushies (Photo: Teh Tarik Nation)
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Teh tarik burrowed its way into kopitiams, mamaks, and restaurants; today, it is inseparable from Malaysian culture, no matter one’s race, age, or background. “It is the drink shared over breakfast before work, over late-night conversations, during football screenings, or family gatherings—some of the most memorable conversations in Malaysia have probably happened over a glass of teh tarik,” chuckles the well-natured Koh. “Like much of our culture, it wasn’t designed or created by institutions but evolved naturally as communities lived, worked, and shared life together.”
Above PC Koh, fourth generation (Photo: Beca Tea)
PC Koh, fourth generation (Photo: Beca Tea)
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While it is undoubtedly a drink that means a lot to all Malaysians, it is one that Koh holds especially close. Blending and selling the teas used in teh tarik has been his family’s trade ever since the end of the Second World War; with the opening of Teh Tarik Nation he comes full circle, adding his own imprint to his family legacy and giving teh tarik the spotlight it has always deserved.
When it comes to the product itself, it is without a doubt that Teh Tarik Nation has the recipe down to the T—pardon the pun. It begins with a delicately balanced blend of eleven teas from five countries, brewed with consistency, while milk softens the drink and sweetness brings depth, rather than being the defining, cloying aspect of the beverage. Though to Wong and Koh, the most important thing is how each cup makes their guests feel: “teh tarik is a drink of hospitality, and every cup should carry the spirit where tea is the hero and every guest leaves feeling as warmly welcomed as they were served.”
Above Teh tarik is a cornerstone of our local culture (Photo: Teh Tarik Nation)
Teh tarik is a cornerstone of our local culture (Photo: Teh Tarik Nation)
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The founders of Teh Tarik Nation hope that someday, they will be fortunate enough to share the pride of Malaysia’s national drink beyond the country’s borders. “And in the meantime, if our customers leave with a smile and come back the next day for another cup, we’ll know we’re on the right track,” they humbly end.
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About
Katelyn is the dining and travel editor of Malaysia and Indonesia. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she offers readers an inside look at the movers and shakers in Asia’s growing food and beverage industry.
