Are the cold drinks from Seven Eleven healthy?

Those 20 baht drinks are usually from the dispenser machines, and yeah, they're basically sugar syrup with a splash of milk or tea. A small cup of Thai milk tea from 7-Eleven has around 20-25 grams of sugar, which is already half your daily limit in one go. If you're having one every day, you're probably fine in the short term, but your body will start feeling it after a few weeks.

Try swapping every other day for the unsweetened soy milk or the green label Oishi tea, they're both in the chilled section and cost about the same. The honey lemon drink from the same machines is also a decent middle ground, less sweet but still gives you that cold drink fix.

arrow_drop_up 24 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

honestly the 20 baht ones from the machines are prob the worst offenders for sugar, like 6-8 teaspoons per cup easy. the 16 baht ones are the same drink just smaller so same issue. if u want something sweet but less intense, try the green label oishi genmaicha in the fridge section, it's got a bit of sugar but way less than thai milk tea. or the meiji strawberry milk is a nice treat but still has sugar, just not as concentrated. if ur having one daily ur body will start to feel sluggish after a month or two, i'd say every other day is fine

arrow_drop_up 3 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

fwiw those 20 baht machine drinks are basically liquid candy disguised as beverages. the Thai milk tea one specifically has like 30g+ sugar per cup, which is 6-7 teaspoons. if you're feeling energetic after drinking it, that's the sugar rush, not real energy.

if you still want that cold drink habit without the crash later, try the unsweetened black coffee from the machine, it's 20 baht too. or grab a bottle of cha yen from the fridge section, the one with the Thai label that says "no sugar added" - it's still slightly sweet from the milk but way less.

your body will thank you in a few weeks if you cut back to every other day. the 16 baht size is the same drink just smaller, so same problem.

arrow_drop_up 2 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

arrow_drop_up 4 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

arrow_drop_up 2 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply