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Guest Contribution by Emma Joyce
Traveling around the world might not be the easiest way to spend your time, but it’s definitely among the most exciting. Meeting new people, exploring new spaces, learning about new cultures, and doing all those things you’ve never done before are just some of the reasons why people love being on the road. Visiting Hong Kong is one of the best ways to take your traveling experience to a whole new level, especially if you’re a fan of tasty teas and wish to learn more about the tea scene over there. In case that’s your cup of tea exactly, here’s what you need to know about exploring the Hong Kong tea scene.
Understand the History
Even though most people are unaware of this, citizens of Hong Kong have been drinking tea forever! This is an integral part of their culture and their everyday lives, which is why you may be surprised to learn how much they truly love and cherish their tea. So, if you want to become a real fan of this beverage, you need to learn more about the history of the Hong Kong tea scene before you start having tea several times a day.
Back in the day, thousands and thousands of years ago, tea was used as a medicine and helped people cure different diseases and feel better than ever. People loved their tea but still treated it as something they drank because they had to, not because they wanted to. The next era in the tea history of Hong Kong started with the British who are globally known for having a taste in teas and insisting on having a cup of tea every single afternoon. Their influence on Hong Kong was massive and it brought another approach to drinking tea: Turning it into something people enjoyed rather than something they were forced to have.
Pick the Flavors
With so many different teas being served all over Hong Kong, you’ll probably need weeks to try them all. From herbal teas to milk tea and everything in between – each of these flavors requires your attention, patience, time, and—above all—appreciation. Still, unless you decide to relocate to Hong Kong for good, you’ll need to make a selection of flavors and figure out which teas you’re going to dedicate your palate to.
First, start by having some milk tea. This is probably the most popular and most consumed tea in Hong Kong, which is why people there drink millions of cups every single day. It’s creamy, it’s smooth, it’s tasty, and it’s soothing – and what more do you want from your beverage? After that, have some herbal tea, some traditional Chinese tea, and some locally-produced tea to finish your tour.
Pick the Places
Again, the tea scene in Hong Kong is so versatile, rich, and well-organized that you’ll have a problem visiting even a fraction of all the teahouses out there. That’s why making a selection is a must, and you have to figure out which places deserve your time the most – don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of them left for your next visit to Hong Kong!
One of the best ways to visit as many teahouses as possible is by finding the right accommodation. Opting for a comfy hotel room or a spacious private accommodation is always a great idea, but what if the places you’ve picked are far from the best teahouses: Staying there makes no sense. That’s why finding properly-situated apartments for rent in Hong Kong makes the most sense in the long run. These places are right in the middle of the action and you’ll be able to reach the best teahouses quickly!
Pick the Food
In the end, you can’t have tasty tea without having some tasty food as well! Finding the right snacks that go well with the best Hong Kong teas might take a while, but if you know where to look and whose advice to take, it shouldn’t be too hard at all.
French toasts, coconut tarts, pineapple buns, and noodles are just some of the things you need to take into consideration when planning a proper Hong Kong tea meal. These things are amazing, especially when combined with milk tea, so don’t be afraid to try them all!
The Hong Kong tea scene is exciting, adventurous, and delicious; so go there right now and you’ll have the time of your life!
Emma Joyce is an avid traveler who likes to explore food from all over the world. When it comes to the best taste, tea is definitely number one and there’s nothing better than starting and ending your day with a nice cup of tea.
Photo “clear drinking glass with liquid” is under an irrevocable, nonexclusive, worldwide copyright license to the photographer 五玄土 ORIENTO and is being posted unaltered (source)
