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TEA CULTURE |
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Yum cha ("drinking tea") is an integral part of Hong Kong's culinary culture.
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A cup of steaming fresh tea is
the perfect complement to
every sumptuous dish. As
any tea lover will tell you, the
traditional drink - whether
Chinese, English or Hong
Kong-style - sends forth its
unique, delicate fragrances to
help shape daily life in Hong Kong.
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The ritual of thanking someone in the traditional Chinese-style yum cha has
much historical significance. When you see tea-drinkers tapping the table
with three fingers of the same hand, it is a silent expression of gratitude
to the member of the party who has refilled their cup.
The gesture recreates a tale of Imperial obeisance. It can be traced to
a Qing Dynasty emperor who used to travel incognito. While visiting South
China, he once went into a teahouse with his companions. In order to preserve
his anonymity, he took his turn at pouring tea. His shocked companions wanted
to kowtow for the great honour. Instead of allowing them to reveal his identity,
the emperor told them to tap two fingers on the table. One finger represented
their bowed head and the other represented their prostrate arms.
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