Sugarcane juice, salted lime & ice — Vietnam's street-side essential
Nuoc mia (sugarcane juice) vendors have operated on Vietnamese streets for generations — the rhythmic chug of the electric press extracting pale green juice from the cane is the sound of a Vietnamese afternoon. The chanh muoi (salted preserved lime) is what makes it more than just sweet juice.
Fresh sugarcane juice oxidises quickly and should be consumed within 30 minutes. Bottled or frozen sugarcane juice is available at Asian grocery stores. Preserved salted limes (chanh muoi) — whole limes pickled in salt — are available at Vietnamese grocers and are the authentic touch. Regular lime with a pinch of salt works well as a substitute.