This uniquely aesthetic tea is easy on the eyes and the taste buds! This subtly sweet Malaysian beverage is called the c peng special. Known for its distinct three layers, this colorful drink showcases palm sugar syrup as its primary sweetening agent. I really enjoyed this refreshing tea, and it was fun to create the layers! This drink also made me fall in love with evaporated milk, so if you’ve been wanting to try that versatile ingredient in a dish, let it be this one.

I love how subtle this drink tastes. Its ingredient list and light, caramel-colored appearance might make you think it’s sweeter than most teas, but it’s quite lovely and light. I received this c peng special recipe from Emmeline, who hails from Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia. “Teh” translates to tea, “c” stands for Carnation (the brand of evaporated milk commonly used), and “peng” means ice in the local dialect of Emmeline’s region. Emmeline is proud to share that this drink originated in a local kopitiam in her city and has gained popularity throughout the country since its invention. “Kopi” means coffee, and “tiam” means shop; Malaysian residents often go for an affordable breakfast or lunch at these local coffee shops. The two main drinks of choice are coffee and tea. I can imagine the teh c peng special is quite popular in these establishments!

Since Malaysia used to be a British colony, a large number of Chinese ingredients came over in the 1800s, merging tea customs from both cultures. The star of the c peng special in particular is the palm sugar, or gula melaka. This ingredient adds a uniquely delicate and fragrant essence to the 3-layer tea. The layers are very visually appealing, and it is seriously elevated by the subtle use of palm sugar.

This recipe was relatively simple to make, and it included one of my newest favorite ingredients: evaporated milk! Before this channel, I had never dabbled much with it, but now I adore it. If you need palm sugar syrup for this recipe, a nearby Asian grocery store should have it. Overall, the recipe took very little time and effort. I hope you enjoy this subtly sweet tea–just make sure to snap a few photos of those beautiful layers before giving it a taste!