It's the best and worst idea I've had: Mía Đá

Summer has brought many things to Hanoi, most of which I am not a big fan of. But there is one thing that I am currently obsessed with that I have this blazing hot season to thank for: mía đá, also known as sugar cane juice. I've mentioned it before, but since the re-discovery in Da Nang a few weeks ago I've been stopping by the side of the road whenever I have a chance to indulge myself in this deliciously refreshing treat.

The appeal is more than just the drink itself, although with a cup full of ice, a fresh squeezed green fruit that is rumored to be kumquat--although I have yet to decide if I believe that rumor or not---called quả quất and pressed sugar cane you really couldn't ask for anything more revitalizing on a sweltering day. But no, the appeal also comes from the process of obtaining mía đá. Come June, signs popped out of nowhere, littering every street in Ha Noi with stall after stall of new vendors. Granted, I'm sure these vendors were there before, just selling another season's speciality. Now though, they have all decided to make the switch to mía đá. If you inclined for a cup you just have look for one of these:

After you stop and let someone park your xe may for you, you order một cốc mía đá (one cup sugarcane with ice) and watch the magic happen. Ok, maybe its not actually magic at all, it is just a motorized press, hearkening back those early days of Industrialization, or perhaps a vicious torture device from an earlier era. You get to watch the seller thread the already peeled sugar cane into the monster's teeth over and over, starting with a round bamboo like stalk and ending up with only a frayed pancake, eking out every iota of deliciousness. It entertains me to no end: