Lao coffee is made in a coffee sock and is very thick, strong and dark black. It is served in a small glass with a couple of tablespoons of condensed milk at the bottom. Coffee is always served with a chaser of either weak black tea or warm water. Strangely enough, real coffee is hard to find in hotels and restaurants, where, as in much of Asia, Nescaf and Coffeemate are the order of the day. T ea, made strong, with condensed milk, served indian style is quite common and can be found in many places.
Chinese tea is served in teapots in most cheaper restaurants and noodle stalls.
W ater served in jugs in restaurants is quite safe to drink and always comes from large 20 litre bottles of purified water. If in doubt, order bottled water. Bottled water can be found just about everywhere in the country with the exception of remote villages. S oft drinks can be found all over the country. They are all imported, and relatively expensive compared to local drinks.