Ice in everything, even beer

In a hot country, ice goes into almost every drink: coffee, tea, soft drinks, fruit juice and, yes, beer. A glass full of น้ำแข็ง with a bottle of Thai lager poured over it is a normal way to drink beer here; it stays cold to the last sip. Restaurants and stalls buy their ice from factories, delivered in big sacks. The tube-shaped cubes with a hole through the middle are typical factory ice, and most residents drink it without a second thought. Staff often top up your glass with ice without asking. If you want less, say ไม่ใส่น้ำแข็ง 'no ice' or น้ำแข็งน้อย 'a little ice'.