Tea Restaurant Owner Wins Silver After Decade of Practice; Hong Kong Karate Coach Takes Bronze in Milk Tea Competition
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong regional final of the prestigious Golden Milk Tea King (金茶王) competition has concluded, showcasing the exceptional skills of local milk tea artisans. Chan Sik-hang, operator of Kang Shing Ice Room (巨昇冰室) in Yuen Long, secured the runner-up position, while Li Wai-chi, who manages South East Restaurant (東南餐廳) in Sai Ying Pun and serves as the Hong Kong karate team coach, claimed the third place. The competition, which featured eight finalists from an initial pool of 24 participants, evaluated contestants on nine criteria including tea aroma, color, and milk tea flavor within a 20-minute time limit .
Key Points
- Chan Sik-hang earned 41.23 points for second place, expressing satisfaction with his performance despite encountering a pre-competition incident where he received one less kettle of water than required .
- With a decade of milk tea brewing experience since 2019, Chan has participated in the Golden Milk Tea King competition annually, previously winning third place and now aiming for the championship next year .
- Li Wai-chi scored 41.08 points, missing second place by merely 0.15 points, and attributed his participation to preserving his father's 50-year-old South East Restaurant legacy in Sai Ying Pun's Third Street .
- Li, who previously worked at his family's restaurant and learned milk tea brewing over ten years ago before pursuing a career as a Hong Kong karate team coach, returned to study milk tea techniques starting from December last year .
- Li qualified for the national finals' top 12 last year and identified his slight underperformance in the final stage regarding tea-to-milk ratio as an area for improvement for future competitions .
Why It Matters
The competition highlights the dedication required to master traditional Hong Kong milk tea craftsmanship, where artisans invest years perfecting their skills through repeated practice. The involvement of individuals like Li Wai-chi, who balances roles as both a culinary inheritor and sports coach, demonstrates how younger generations are finding innovative ways to preserve and promote intangible cultural heritage. As these artisans set their sights on future competitions and passing on their expertise, the future of Hong Kong's iconic milk tea culture remains secure .
The competition highlights the dedication required to master traditional Hong Kong milk tea craftsmanship, where artisans invest years perfecting their skills through repeated practice. The involvement of individuals like Li Wai-chi, who balances roles as both a culinary inheritor and sports coach, demonstrates how younger generations are finding innovative ways to preserve and promote intangible cultural heritage. As these artisans set their sights on future competitions and passing on their expertise, the future of Hong Kong's iconic milk tea culture remains secure .