Blog 4

Identity and Community in Hong Kong-Style Tea Cafés talks about how tea restaurants first emerged during the 1940s when Hong Kong residents admired ‘the Western style of life’ by imitating fashionable ways of drinking coffee and milk tea with toast. Since these so-called Western foods and drinks were only in expensive hotel restaurants, and not affordable by ordinary citizens, small tea cafés were opened to fill the void. Besides, it mentions about the characteristics of Hong Kong people in the past when most of them are immigrants from the mainland or they have been affected by the political upheavals in contemporary Chinese history. Due to the economic success in the 1980s and 1990s that Hong Kong as a society has enjoyed greatly enhanced the popular belief, and the hardworking and versatile population of Hong Kong, made the city matured as a metropolis not only in the Asian region, but also over the world. Such sense of pride and identity as part of the socio-economic in Hong Kong and it has obtained a mythical aura in the Hong Kong ethos. 

Therefore, it shows us that Hong Kong people’s flexibility and adaptability in different circumstances. It is the behavior demonstrates Hong Kong people are sophisticated and welcoming to new things. Also, they are not shy in adapting the new elements and ideas in familiar existing objects to create a different and better end product. This could be seen in the varied diversity of the tea café menu, as well as within the individual dishes, such as the iconic Yuanyang drink “鴛鴦” and varieties of sauce interpretations of Western dishes.

Last but not least, it also discuss about the representation of Cha chaan teng. It indeed represents the essence of Hong Kong way of life. It is easy to locate and it gives fast service and treats everyone equally, serves familiar and delicious food to fit diverse palates, charges low prices but gives large servings of food and drink. Meanwhile, it provides a comfortable environment with the familiar noise, crowd, and intimacy, for people to socialize, especially the old generations, neighborhood and workers. Moreover, Cha chaan teng reflects their image of Hong Kong, which is quick, practical, versatile, and egalitarian.

Regarding to the process of my research, I have finished the questionnaires and I already have some data reflecting their opinions towards my question (20 questionnaires were done). They are mainly elderly and workers. I am still finding more relevant books / articles / sources which can help me to better develop my research.

Student Name: Chu Chi Wai

Student ID: 10550989