In Hong Kong, there is a type of local cafes called "tea
restaurant" ("cha chaan teng"). It combines both local HK cuisine and
HK interpretation of western dishes.
Some people said that this name was used to differentiate the western
restaurants which serve a glass of water when you first sit down. Instead,
tea restaurants serve you Chinese tea at no extra cost.
It's not just the Chinese tea that brings it the name of "tea restaurant".
In the old days when HK was still a British colony, people learn to drink
English tea at lunch time or tea time. It's called "milk tea because
English people put milk and sugar in it) But instead of fresh milk, HK
style milk tea uses evaporated milk or even condensed milk to give a richer
flavor. HK style milk tea is also prepared differently from the British
ones. Instead of steeping tea in a pot of hot water, tea was put into a
filter then into a pot to bring to boil. It's then simmer for a few
minutes and some may boil it again to bring out more flavor. Different
restaurants also mixes different black tea in one pot to create their
restaurant's unique flavor. This signature drink of HK has now an annual
milk tea competition which is reported internatinoally. The winning chef
certainly brings fame and business to the cafe.
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