Just northeast of Kaohsiung city is a wonderful Hakka village named MeiNong. The village is well-known for its paper umbrellas and Hakka culture museum. Unfortunately, we didn't get there in time to go the museum, but we did have the opportunity to make some Hakka style tea called Lei1Cha1 擂茶 at a restaurant in MeiNong. The restaurant's food smelled delicious, but we only drank tea. Here's what you do:
Step 1: You are brought the ingredients. In the big bowl are crispy popped rice, white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, and dried tea leaves. On the plate are peanuts, pinenuts, and green sunflower (?) seeds. Farthest to the the right is the powder--a soybean based powder that we will use later. On the bottom right is a plate of cookies to nibble on while you drink your tea.
Step 2: Using a mortar and a pestle made from a guava tree, grind the rice, sesame seeds and tea leaves to a powder. After that, add the nuts and seeds, and grind those into a powder, too. Use those muscles!
Step 3: As you are grinding, you can use a brush to sweep the powder out of the mortar.
Step 4: Keep a big pot of boiling water handy... [note the traditional Chinese tables and benches in the background. Also the traditional blue and red Hakka clothing.]
Step 5: Put a spoonful of the stuff you ground up and a spoonful of the soybean powder (more if you want a stronger flavor) in your cup. Add hot water and stir. Enjoy.
I really enjoyed "watching" the pictures of food that you saved in this blog. Thanks a lot. they make me think of Taiwan again. It's interesting how you are interested in eating Hakka food. You really listed most of the delicious food in Taiwan.
Posted by: julie | 2006/5/18 at 下午 1:22
interesting site
Greetings from Ellie
(HOLLAND)
Posted by: Ellie | 2006/5/19 at 下午 4:20
i love to know how you make that tea stuff 1 (= my mom makes this thing and you have to boil it with hot water and its into little small pieces and its melts and you have to wait until it cools down and eat it .. my mom she thinks it doesnt that flavorish so she makes it with bananas
Posted by: misty | 2006/10/27 at 上午 7:16
misty-
This may not be the same thing. You don't actually boil the stuff with water, you just add boiling water and stir it. And bananas? Seems like a stange addition, as everything else is rather dry. Maybe it is another variation on lei cha.
Posted by: taiwantiger | 2006/11/1 at 上午 9:49
This is a wonderful site. Thank you for sharing with the world. It reminds me so much of Hong Kong and China (obviously) and Viet Nam, I left with a small 3/4 full suitcase and returned home with no free room, most of which was filled with fresh teas and Vietnamese coffee. I've been inviting everyone I know over to indulge in the 5 main kinds of tea; everyone is speechless by the flavours produced.
This recipe reminds me of a similar recipe that my friends from Korea shared with me. It consists of a powdered tea mixed with spices, nuts, and specific tree roots, which unfortunately, he wasn't sure of the names. If anyone knows, could you please post a recipe? Thanks!
bryce
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Posted by: Rental | 2011/1/20 at 上午 8:27
I super enjoyed watching the pictures of food that you saved in this blog. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
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Posted by: Meratol Review | 2011/4/7 at 下午 12:56
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