What is your favorite drink?

We are told to drink eight glasses of water each day. Supposedly, a larger intake keeps the doctor away. Water is a safe choice. It’s not as filling as juice and is the best for hydration. It should cure many maladies. If you’re already eating carbs like bread or potatoes, chugging water ensures that you don’t go full too soon. It’s a good complement to heavy dishes. If you’re not a fan of flavours, then this bland drink is perfect. Unlike other beverages, water is also quite cost-effective. It’s a natural and ubiquitous resource that has predated Homo sapiens.

BJ (buko juice) and a hint of tea

Next to water, coconut juice is the second banana. (Sorry, Gatorade). It’s similar to water as it’s got a light taste; it isn’t too overpowering or sweet. It usually comes in a litre or smaller. These items are imported from Southeast Asia, where there is an abundance of coconut trees. When you drink coconut juice, it’s not addictive like soft drinks.

Going back to my favourite drink, I’d say it’s peppermint tea. I bought a forty pack from the supermarket. I’ve been drinking a hot cuppa each morning. I pour boiling water then steep it for three minutes. The morning fix is a good habit to maintain. Aussies aren’t big on breakfast. It’s usually just oats, milk and cereals, or toast and Vegemite. The rest might just have a cuppa before work.

Soda for the soul

I used to have chamomile tea at night. There are still a few bags left. In school, I had a cup of coffee each morning. It gave me an energy boost but also made me jittery. In Sydney, I continued this ritual. Now, I opt for herbal tea.

Occasionally, I drink caffeinated soda. You know, Coke and Pepsi. When I get supper delivered, that usually means soft drinks. Every now and then, I also go for iced tea. These drinks are stimulating, so it’s best not to have them in the evening. The late Pope Benedict XVI was reportedly addicted to Fanta. This was depicted in The Two Popes with Jonathan Pryce. Aside from the colas, I likewise gulp sarsaparilla. I used to get A&W root beer a lot. Nowadays, I try to avoid these and sip healthier. Incidentally, Aussies shorten it as ‘sars’ while Pinoys call it sarsi.

Like coco water, sars is more of a SE Asian thing. They’re often manufactured and popular in Malaysia, Thailand, etc. I had a Malay classmate. She has two boys. I asked her about sarsi. It was her first fizzy drink. She said that she has since avoided them. Similarly, many moons ago, my friend and I visited Hobart. After a long day at the animal sanctuary and Port Arthur, our tour guide dropped us off. We went to this Asian restaurant, where I almost finished a bottle of sars.

One gallon of fruit juice please!

I drink fruit juices more than soda. Occasionally, I get Nudie juice. They assert that one cup of their juice is equivalent to two serves of fruit. They pride themselves on being the ‘creators of good’. They offer a few varieties. Impressed is another decent brand. Like Nudie, they claim to be 100% fruit juice with no added nasties. They come in one litre bottles. You have to make a choice: will it be juice or dessert. If you keep chugging the former, this will eat into your space for fruit. Aside from making you full, juice has a lot of sugar. Recently, I have been advised to limit my consumption to one glass a day. Generally, juice doesn’t go too well with Filo rice dishes. Plates of beef stew and jackfruit with coconut milk are already full of carbs. Hence, the popularity of fizzy drinks.

Another option is to make your own juice. Years ago, I’ve detailed this in an earlier post. You could opt for mango-orange or apple orange shakes. You could blend bananas and oranges, even concoct avocado or watermelon juice. Basically, you’re saving time and money. The choice is yours.

Cloudy with a chance of Congee

The weather is also a consideration. During the warmer months, you can expect me to buy more juice and ice cream. In autumn and winter, hot cuppas and soups are the pick. There’s nothing like guzzling chicken soup, beef pho or, better yet, congee. Ramen is another staple. Since the weather is already freezing, drinking ice-cold bottles is ridiculous.

There was a time when I had the occasional drink. I mostly stuck to beer and cider. Whiskey cola and red wine wasn’t for me. I tried various beer brands, from Asahi to Cooper’s, Peroni to Heineken, Tiger to Somersby. One guy told me that they all tasted the same. Alcohol is versatile. This went well with steaks, seafood, and even pasta. Indeed, in France, wines can be a water replacement. They were a real thirst quencher and the best pick me ups. However, they’re not good for your tummy or ‘bill of rights’. In Hobart, we visited Cascade Brewery. We were shown how beer was manufactured. It was very educational and we had a few drinks ourself.

In case you’re wondering, I never had a drinking problem. It was not a weekly or fortnightly thing. In the past eight or nine years, I’ve only had one standard drink.

Never a dull drink

So, that’s a rundown of my beverage choices. As you can see, there’s a lot of variety. Over time, I’ve evolved. From a coffee-loving schoolboy to a tea enthusiast, from slurping beer to downing buko juice. Unfortunately, I haven’t totally eradicated fizzy drinks and fruit juice from my diet. Having done so with alcohol, this is the next logical step. To all creatures young and old, making the switch is never too late. Salud!

P.S. You can follow me on Instagram. @topherdman