🍛 Why was curry beef brisket popular during the colonial era? Let's take a closer look!

When it comes to Hong Kong curry, the most familiar dish to Hong Kong residents, curry beef brisket is undoubtedly a classic! Whether it's a cha chaan teng (tea restaurant), fast food restaurant, or dai pai dong (dà pai dong), curry beef brisket is a perennial dish, even becoming a staple of Hong Kong cuisine. Historically, curry beef brisket was particularly popular during the colonial era, a phenomenon closely tied to Hong Kong's international identity, colonial culture, and social climate. Today, we'll explore why curry beef brisket became such a popular dish back then!

📜 Background on the introduction of curry

🌏 British Colonial Network

Curry originally came from India. Due to British colonial rule, curry sauce was spread to all parts of the world, including Hong Kong, by the British.

• The British used to make curry a fixed dish on the colonial table.
• As Hong Kong is a transshipment port, curry spices are easily imported, so curry quickly became popular in Hong Kong.

🥘 Chinese and foreign exchanges

At the time, Hong Kong was home to a large number of Indian and South Asian workers (such as police officers, cooks, and coolies), who introduced curry culture into Hong Kong's daily lives. Chinese chefs, in turn, adapted the recipe to suit local tastes, creating the unique "Hong Kong-style curry."

🐂 Why use "beef brisket"?

🥩 Beef Supply Background

During the colonial era, Hong Kong began importing large quantities of beef, but the premium cuts were mostly reserved for foreigners or expensive restaurants. Beef brisket (the tendon-filled part near the ribs) was relatively affordable and common in Chinese communities.

🍲 Characteristics of Beef Brisket

• Beef brisket contains a lot of fascia and needs to be braised for a long time.
• Curry spices can remove the strong smell of beef brisket.
• The long stew allows the curry sauce to seep into the beef brisket, making the meat tender and flavorful.

As a result, beef brisket becomes the best partner of curry.

🔥 Characteristics of Hong Kong-style curry

• Spicy but not overpowering🌶️ : Unlike Indian curry, it is mild and sweet, which suits the taste of Hong Kong people.
• Add coconut milk or peanut butter : Make the curry more fragrant and smooth.
• Accompanied by potatoes🥔 : Potatoes absorb the curry sauce and become the soul element of Hong Kong-style curry.
• Served with rice or noodles : Simple and filling, perfect for working people.

🏙️ Why is the Colonial Era so popular?

1️⃣ International cultural integration

Hong Kong is a place where Eastern and Western cultures meet, and the combination of curry and beef brisket perfectly embodies the "fusion of East and West".

2️⃣ Popular consumption

The ingredients of curry beef brisket are affordable, suitable for large-scale production in tea restaurants and daipaidangs. It is cheap, delicious and authentic, and affordable for everyone.

3️⃣ Workers’ favorite

The beef brisket is generous in portion and the curry sauce goes really well with the rice. It’s filling enough and perfect for workers and students.

4️⃣ Promotion of tea restaurant culture

During the colonial era, tea restaurants emerged and curry beef brisket became a must-have dish, almost as famous as egg noodles and baked pork chop rice.

🌐 The cultural significance of curry beef brisket

• Identity symbol : Represents Hong Kong people’s “localization” of foreign culture.
• Collective memory : For generations of Hong Kong people who have grown up eating fine food, curry beef brisket has become a "comfort food".
• Culinary wisdom : Using common ingredients and combining them with exotic spices to create brand new flavors perfectly reflects the flexibility and creativity of Hong Kong people.

😋 Editor's thoughts

My absolute favorite is the curry beef brisket rice at a tea restaurant! The aroma of curry fills the air, the beef brisket is tender and flavorful, and the potatoes are soaked up the juice. Paired with white rice, it's a real hit. For me, curry beef brisket is more than just a dish; it's a taste of Hong Kong. Eating it is like going back to the days when I was a kid and went to a tea restaurant with my family after school.

🎉 Summary

Curry beef brisket became popular during the colonial era, thanks to the spread of curry culture through British colonial networks, the popularization of beef brisket as a common ingredient, and the promotion of cha chaan teng (tea restaurant) culture . Refined by Chinese chefs, curry beef brisket has become an affordable and delicious Hong Kong classic, symbolizing the city's blend of East and West and culinary creativity.

👉 The editor would like to ask everyone: Do you prefer "Curry Beef Brisket Rice" or "Curry Beef Brisket Noodles"?