Hong Kong herbal tea tradition finds new Gen Z fans
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s traditional herbal cooling tea trade is gaining renewed attention as younger, health-conscious consumers begin exploring remedies that were once a routine part of daily life. In the first instalment of a four-part Health Matters series published on Sunday, Lisa Cam and Ashlyn Chak examine how this interest is helping neighbourhood tea shop owners protect a fading craft
Key Points
- The South China Morning Post report, published on Sunday, says Generation Z consumers are helping revive century-old leung cha, or herbal cooling tea, in Hong Kong
- Before chain pharmacies and over-the-counter painkillers became common, open-front tea shops brewed dark herbal drinks in large brass cauldrons and served them in ceramic bowls
- For generations of local workers, the teas were used to soothe sore throats, clear seasonal “dampness” and help bodies recover from urban stress
- Hong Kong author and food writer Lui Ka-chun said the practice originated in Guangdong and addressed southern conditions linked to dampness and excessive heat
- Lui said cooling tea shops grew out of traditional Chinese medicine clinics, before workers and hawkers began selling ready-to-drink remedies on streets and carts
Why It Matters
The renewed interest from younger drinkers may give small neighbourhood operators a better chance of preserving a trade described as dying, while keeping a distinctly southern Chinese wellness practice visible in Hong Kong streetscapes. It also shows how traditional Chinese medicine habits can be repackaged for a generation seeking functional health routines rather than purely nostalgic experiences