☕🫖 Why is "Yuan Yang" coffee and milk tea? A classic Hong Kong tea restaurant drink revealed!

Hello everyone~ Today I want to tell you about a legendary Hong Kong tea restaurant drink combination – Yuanyang ! 😍
You'll definitely see "hot mandarin duck" or "cold mandarin duck" listed on the drink menu at a tea restaurant. Many tourists, upon seeing it for the first time, are curious: "Aren't mandarin ducks a pair of birds? Why is it coffee and milk tea?" What's the history, culture, and interest behind this? Let's break it down in detail.

📖 The origin of the name Yuanyangkai

1. The original meaning of mandarin duck

Mandarin ducks are a type of water bird, and their most distinctive feature is that they appear in pairs, symbolizing the inseparable relationship between lovers. 💕
Hong Kong people love to use the word "mandarin duck" to describe two things that go together perfectly, such as "mandarin duck pillow" and "mandarin ducks playing in the water".

2. Why is it used in beverages?

Because Mandarin Duck represents "two in pairs", when the tea restaurant chef mixed coffee and milk tea , he felt that although they were different, they were surprisingly harmonious when they appeared together, so he borrowed the name "Mandarin Duck". 🫶

☕🫖 Coffee + Milk Tea = Yuanyang

Coffee Character

• The taste is bitter and strong, with a roasted aroma.
• Refreshing, especially suitable for working people. 💼

Milk tea role

• It is made by adding black tea and evaporated milk, and tastes smooth and fragrant.
• The aroma of tea and milk is equally important, and it is the soul drink of Hong Kong tea restaurants. 🍶

After mixing

• The bitterness of coffee and the smoothness of milk tea neutralize each other.
• The drink has both the aroma of tea and the richness of coffee, with rich layers.
• A drink that's both familiar and novel .

🌍 Origin and History

1. Creative products of tea restaurants

Yuanyang is said to have first appeared in Hong Kong tea restaurants in the 1950s and 1960s. To cater to the varying tastes of customers, some preferring tea while others prefer coffee, chefs at the time simply mixed the two. The result was a huge hit, and the practice spread rapidly.

2. Name finalization

Initially it was just called "Coffee Milk Tea", but later because the name "Yuanyang" was more poetic and symbolic, it gradually became popular and became the official menu name.

3. International recognition

"Yuanyang" is not only a daily part of Hong Kong people, but has also become one of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage items , representing Hong Kong's unique food culture. 🌏

🍹 Mandarin Duck Variations

Hot Mandarin Duck

A classic choice, especially comfortable to drink warm in winter.

Frozen Mandarin Duck

A must-have in summer, it is even more refreshing when added with ice. Some tea restaurants also make "frozen milk yuanyang" which has a smoother texture. 🧊

Special Edition

• Yuanyang Sweet : low in sugar or sugar-free, suitable for healthy people.
• Yuanyang with evaporated milk : richer milk flavor.
• Yuanyang Tea/Coffee : Adjust the proportions to suit your taste.

👩🍳 Why are mandarin ducks so evergreen?

1. Balanced taste : The tea aroma balances the bitterness of the coffee, so the drink isn't too monotonous.
2. A lifesaver for difficult choices : Sometimes customers want both coffee and milk tea, and Yuanyang is the perfect solution. 🤭
3. Hong Kong style : Coffee and milk tea mixed drinks can be found in many places around the world, but the name "Yuanyang" is unique to Hong Kong and has the same culture.
4. High public acceptance : It is easy for everyone to accept, regardless of gender, age or status, and some people prefer hot or cold.

🌍 Mandarin ducks on the international stage

• Taiwan : Some coffee shops imitate Hong Kong-style 鴻 (Yuan Yang) and call it "Hong Kong-style coffee milk tea".
• Overseas tea restaurants : In Hong Kong-style tea restaurants in New York, London, Vancouver, etc., Yuanyang is definitely one of the popular drinks. 🌎
• Cultural representative : Foreign media often introduce "Yuanyang" as a representative of Hong Kong's food culture, just like dim sum and pineapple buns.

🤔 What do you think?

I think the key to Yuanyang's success lies in its "simple yet witty" approach. Hong Kong people love to be flexible, mixing two things that don't go together to create something new. This spirit perfectly aligns with the Hong Kong people's "East meets West" and "drinks for what they want" approach to life. 💪

🎉 Editor’s Summary

"Yuanyang" is more than just a drink, it symbolizes:

• Hong Kong Tea Restaurant's Creativity
• Fusion of Chinese and Western cultures
• Hong Kong people are flexible, practical and somewhat romantic.

👉 Next time you go to a cha chaan teng, try the "Sweet Frozen Yuanyang" or "Hot Yuanyang with Evaporated Milk" to experience the authentic taste of Hong Kong! 🫶