Dry January. That miserable month when people force themselves to abstain from alcohol and make sure that the rest of us know all about it. Joy of joys….
Yet being ‘dry’ isn’t just for January any more- many people for many reasons don’t drink and so restaurants and bars are upping their game when it comes to non alcoholic drinks. Big Hospitality recently reported that 55% of people are looking for more choice of non alcoholic drinks when they’re out.
Can you guess from the ingredients which Thai drink is the inspiration?
Thaikhun, a group of Thai restaurants already have a good selection of non alcoholic choices on their menu, but to mark Dry January they have asked customers to come up with a new mocktail. The winner will see their drink on the menu in Feb (with a charitable donation for every one sold) and a Thaikhun orange card which gives you free meals for a whole year. Err yes please!
I’ve gone down the freakshake route for this recipe. My thinking is that it’s visually interesting (much better than a dull glass of lemonade) and it can double up as dessert and your after dinner coffee.
In Thailand you see coffee (and pancakes) made on the street and in cafes with condensed milk. Condensed milk is so sweet that it must be like putting five sugar lumps in your coffee! An iced coffee is called oliang which is where I got the name for my freakshake.
This is a mixture of coffee ice cream, coconut milk, cream, condensed milk and a little chocolate! 
Ingredients
- Coffee ice cream
- Coconut milk (the drinking type which comes in cartons, not the thick type in tins)
- Condensed milk
- Squirty cream
- Grated white and milk chocolate
Instructions
- In a large glass or Kilner jar, place two scoops of coffee ice cream .
- Top up with coconut milk- leaving about 20% space at the top.
- Squirt on the cream then drizzle the condensed milk over the top.
- Sprinkle with chocolate and serve immediately.
Notes
Like the iced coffee seen all over Thailand, this shake gets a sweet hit from Carnation condensed milk. Ideal with spicy Thai food or on a hot day.
It’s definitely one for the grown ups – all that coffee and sugar would make a kid run wild in a restaurant! I’ve entered this freakshake into Thaikhun’s mocktail competition and may pull another together as well… I have an idea for a sweet drink brewing in my mind!
What’s your thought on freakshakes, or milk shakes in general? Acceptable with a meal, or more of an after dinner drinkable dessert?
2 comments