Vietnamese Coffee

Vietnamese coffee is my favorite. It is easy to make (mix coffee with chicory and condensed milk) and it is a comforting drink that reminds me of home and family. However, every time I drink it ... I can't help but think of the history of colonization and also the reality of polyculturalism.

During the French colonization, the colonizers introduce coffee to Vietnamese people and the country eventually became a coffee exporter. The existence of Vietnamese coffee is complex because it represents colonial history, exploitation of natural resources and land for profits, etc. But Vietnamese coffee also represents polyculturalism, the idea that cultures are interrelated and are not static. Vietnamese coffee is not exactly French nor Vietnamese, but a combination of both. This coffee also demonstrates that cultures are always transforming and culture authenticity is arbitrary.

Food is interesting because it stretches beyond taste, color, form and experience. Food represents complex history and human relationships.