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7 BEST PLACES FOR HONG KONG- STYLE MILK TEAS

FOODIE

You can’t check off your Hong Kong bucket list if you haven’t tried a Hong Kong-style milk tea. 

Listed as one of the Intangible Cultural Heritages of Hong Kong 2017,

this authentic cup of delight cannot be missed! 

 

What is Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea?

 
Hong Kong-style milk tea has its roots in the city’s colonial past, stemming from the British afternoon tea practice. Over time, the practice filtered down to the local working class, localised by replacing fresh milk with a dash of evaporated milk or condensed milk. The rich and silky drink has since been energising generations of Hong Kongers.
 
To make Hong Kong-style milk tea, the piping hot tea is drawn through a silk stocking to reach the desired texture and then poured over the evaporated milk or condensed milk. 
Each Cha Chaan Teng has its own secret blend of black teas comprising several types of tea grounded to varying coarseness, which takes tea masters months, if not years, and their highly trained palates to perfect. The slightest variations in water temperature, coarseness of the tea leaves, the way the tea is drawn and so on will result in differences in the aroma, texture, colour, flavour, taste, aftertaste, thickness, etc. In fact, we are so serious about our milk tea that tea masters gather annually at a Hong Kong-style milk tea brewing competition to fight for the winning title, which in turn will draw thousands of fans to their restaurant just to try the perfect cup.
 

Best Places for Hong Kong Milk Tea

 

Lan Fong Yuen (Central) 

 

Photo credits: maying1023 (Instagram)

 

Could you guess the secret to Lan Fong Yuen’s famed Hong Kong-style milk tea? The secret ingredient is their pantyhose filter.
 
The unrivalled creamy smooth taste of the milk tea is because of its unique filter.
That is why Lang Fong Yuen has stood as the historical symbol of Cha Chaan Tengs for almost half a century.

Other Must-Trys: Authentic Pork Chop Bun, Chicken Chop with Instant Noodles with Drink, Hong Kong Crispy Bun

2 Gage St, Central, Central and Western District Shop

Tel: +852 2544 3895

 

Hoi On Café

 

Photo credits: andrewniou (Instagram)

 

Listed as one of “The 38 Essential Hong Kong Restaurants”, Hoi On Café is a traditional cold drinking Cantonese café that arouses nostalgia from the 1950s. It is also called a “bing sutt (冰室)” which literally means “ice room”. While only a few bing sutts remain, Hoi On Café strongly holds its position with its rustic and old-school layout, where you could experience 1950s Hong Kong.

 

 Other Must-Trys: Minced Beef Scrambled Eggs on Toast, Cubed Honey French Toast with Butter, 

Pineapple Buns with Butter.

17 Connaught Road, Sheung Wan 

Tel: +852 2540 6340

 

 

Shui Kee Coffee

 

Photo credits: maying1023 (Instagram)

 

Want to get the full experience of a local?

Hidden in the hawker centre of the old Municipal Services Building in Sheung Wan,   
Shui Kee Coffee is one of the local’s most loved places. Family run for more than 60 years, experience their one and only silky iced bottled milk tea, which is rarely served in other Dai Pai Dongs (Hong Kong’s outdoor food stalls)!

 

Other Must-Trys: Hong Kong-style French Toast, The Beef & Egg Bun, Beef &Egg Sandwich

Shop 17, 2/F, Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong 

Tel: +852 2850 8643

 

 

Kam Wah Café 

 

Photo credits: akiramujinahk (Instagram)

 

In addition to its title of having the best pineapple buns in Hong Kong, Kam Wah Café 

is also well known for its perfectly matching Hong Kong milk tea.

Loved by both locals and tourists, long queues are common even in non-peak hours.

 

Other Must-Trys: Kam Wah Polo Bun, Egg Tart, Club Sandwich

47 Bute Street, Prince Edward

Tel: +852 2392 6830

 

 

Yue Hing (Central) 

 

Photo credits: maxinechann (Instagram)

 

As one of the few remaining milk tea Dai Pai Dongs in Hong Kong Island, Yue Hing is another longtime favourite among locals. 

Made one at a time for its best taste, dishes sell out if you are not an early bird. The recommended time to get a seat is around 9- 9:30 am!

 

Other Must-Trys: Sandwich Combo with Toppings of Your Choice

82 Stanley Street, Central

 

 

 

Mrs. Tang Café: Waso Café

 

Photo credits: food_stoppp (Instagram)

 

Want something more than milk tea and “just” a pineapple bun? Mrs. Tang Café is here to grant your wish. 

This café has a legendary specialty- pineapple butter bun richly stuffed with tomato and eggs.

A bite of this bun, washed down with the café’s “champagne” milk tea, a type of Hong Kong-style milk tea in a chilled bottle that keeps

the thick concentration of the tea, presents an unforgettable taste.  

Not to worry if you can’t make your trip to Yuen Long, they also have branches in Wanchai, Kwun Tong and Tsim Sha Tsui.

 

Other Must-Trys: Chicken Wings & Meat Loin & Egg Rice Noodles w/ Tom Yum Gong,

Luncheon Meat and Egg Sandwich, Macaroni in Rich Tomato Soup

Yuen Long, New Territories Hang Tau Tsuen, Ping Shan

Tel: +852 2617 2232

 

 

Australia Dairy Company

 

 

Just in case you were wondering, Australia Dairy Co is not actually Australian.
In fact, contrasting to its name, it is one of the most classic Cha Chaan Tengs in Hong Kong. Along with its steady best seller: Hong Kong-style milk tea, it is iconic for its fluffy scrambled egg that is acclaimed to be the “best on Earth”. Remember to go early to avoid long queues, reminder that it closes on Thursdays!

 

Other Must-Trys: Steamed Milk Pudding, Macaroni Soup with Ham

G/F 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2730 1356

 

 

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