Make mine a cha chuck

When I lived in Kuala Lumpur, my favourite eating experience was to head down to the Indian area of Brickfields and indulge myself with several pieces of roti bread which were then dipped in a fish curry sauce. Delicious, and best washed down with a glass of teh tarik; tea and condensed milk which is made extra foamy by being poured between two jugs, several times and at an increasing distance.

Today we found a stall selling teh tarik; although here they call it cha chuck, which sounds like a more appropriate name to an English speaker.

I don’t care what they call it, just wish I could find Malaysian quality roti and fish curry here. Any suggestions (other than “move to Malaysia”)?

Comments 🔗

2010-06-06 | Sangy says

I will pack it into my suitcase if ever I make a trip there. That’s the best I can do for you with regards to your restriction.

2010-06-06 | Pete says

The sign behind him says (to me) Cha Chak. I’m from Yorkshire and we take our u’s seriously. The big red thing you get on to go somewhere is a bus, not a bas. These two Thai vowels tend to get transliterated wrongly in my opinion, and that one over the top of the letters is an ‘ah’ sound and not an ‘uh’ sound. ชาชัก is what the sign says, meaning tea (drawn, pulled, convulsed). The ‘uh’ ones go under the letters which would be ชาชุก, meaning ‘abundant tea’.

2010-06-07 | Spike says

I’m from Newcastle and it was a trolley bus, not a bus (or a bas). My Mum warned me about smart buggers from the deep south, like you. My cultural adviser now tells me that indeed it should be pronounced “chak”, and not “chuck” which is how it sounded when she fist told me. It’ll always be teh tarik to me.

2010-06-07 | Spike says

Sangy Thanks. Might make for a soggy suitcase.