Orange juice earnings sweet for street vendors

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Beer may be king in Pattaya, but orange juice is giving it a run for its money.

With the weather heating up, OJ vendors are raking in the baht, rolling through the streets with fresh-squeezed thirst quenchers.

Namthip Mankhong, 34, said she took up orange juice sales this month, moving it on a trolley through the streets with each bottle selling for 20 baht. Russians, she said, prefer orange juice to water.

Adisak Chinnok sells freshly squeezed orange juice with only a few additives.Adisak Chinnok sells freshly squeezed orange juice with only a few additives.

The Nakhorn Ratchasima native said she makes 300-1,000 baht per day for an average of 12,000 baht per month.

Adisak Chinnok, 29, said he’s been selling OJ for about 18 months and earns an average 15,000 baht per month. He buys the oranges for 20 baht per kilogram and mixes the juice with 20% sugared syrup, leaving plenty of profit, he said.

Namthip Mankhong sells a happy customer a cool refreshing orange juice.Namthip Mankhong sells a happy customer a cool refreshing orange juice.

Many tourists don’t realize, however, that vendors add syrup, straight sugar and even salt to “fresh squeezed” juice. Thirsty consumers not wanting the extra ingredients should ask that the vendor prepare their serving fresh and not simply take juice already bottled.