Part of my parents’ identity for me are their daily beverage preferences— aside from the copious amounts of ice cold water one drinks in the very-hot climate of the Philippines during the day.

My mom would have water boiled in a pot in the morning and transferred to a big thermos jug— hot water always ready for the day.  My dad would make his own coffee, in the same white porcelain mug with a bird design (not quite sure, but I can almost see that bluebird), a carefully-measured-less-than-a-teaspoon of Nescafe instant and hot water.  Mom would mix up Ovaltine and Carnation Non-fat milk for her hot drink.

When eating out, Mom would have Sprite and depending on the time of day, Dad would either have San Miguel beer or share my Mom’s Sprite.

What is my Signature Drink?  What would my daughter remember about my drink preference?

Hopefully, not just the warm lime water I drink first thing in the morning.  (I would microwave 8 oz. of filtered water for 50 seconds and squeeze a quarter of a lime (or lemon) — supposed to be a good morning cleanser for one’s insides.)

I have never been much of a hot caffeine drinker, whether it is tea or coffee.  When I first started working in New York years ago, everybody was having coffee.  To feel part of the group and so as not to appear so much as a newbie from the Third World, I reckoned I had better start drinking coffee, too.  I chose to have coffee the way my new boss was taking it, “with milk, no sugar”.  I thought, since I don’t really have a preference, why not start drinking the same way as he did so in case, he did not have his morning coffee, I could offer him mine. (Yeah, I was brown-nosing, so sue me.)

For a couple of years, I was having coffee everyday with milk, no sugar.

Then, I left that job.  After a while, I thought, I do not need to spend $1.65 every day for a cup of coffee.  That amounts to $429/year!  I coould use that money for a vacation.  And I never really liked the taste of coffee, anyway.

Fast-forward ten years to Boulder, Colorado.  I was introduced to Chai!  All my years in New York and Vancouver, prior to this, I’ve never heard of chai. 

My first taste of it was Soy Chai from Starbucks that my boss brought back without asking for my preference — he thought I would be a Soy-Chai person.  I was not impressed by it.  Did not right away took to the sweet, spicy, creamy combination of Black Tea, Spices and Soy Milk.  It would be one of those things that I would need to try out 16 x before I would like it. 
Chai I tried the regular Chai Latte and Non-fat Chai from Starbucks, tried brewing my own tea, adding honey and milk, I tried the chai concentrates. Most of the time, it would just taste too sweet for me.

Until I found the Oregon Chai Slightly Sweet Original. I paired it with Vanilla Soymilk and Voila! My Perfect Drink!

What is your Signature Drink?