Authentic Asian Drink

Do you recall when chrysanthemum used to be the default choice of packet drink you'd get when visiting the homes of friends and relatives? This is probably most obvious during Chinese New Year. No matter which household you go to, there might be a variety of drinks on the table but if you check the cupboards where the packet drinks have been stockpiled, there'd be a lot more chrysanthemum than anything else.

When I decided I was old enough to like what I like, I favoured lemon barley. When I was old enough to decide I was old enough to like something so kiddy, I liked lychee. Somewhere in between, there was a longan and red date drink phase. And bandung.

Also, when it comes to these Asian drinks, I prefer Yeo's and that preference has lasted to this day. There are some other brands out there but they tend to taste too artificial or too sweet. I think it's because I grew up drinking Yeo's.

I don't remember when it was that suddenly, everything yellow in the cupboards turned green. Suddenly, green tea went into tetra-packs and became the default drink (and it has to be Pokka green tea for me). I suppose it took on because of the illusion that it's healthier and less sweet.

My world of beverages has long since grown beyond the world of Yeo's but sometimes I still crave the sweetness that is so familiar to the palate. And I'm glad they went back to the boxy packaging of my childhood. It's much cuter.