蓮香樓 5.66

嶺南飲茶文化由來已久，至清代，「二厘館」、茶居、茶樓相繼出現，催生出粵人喝早茶、吃點心的習俗。傳統飲茶講究「一盅兩件」、「水滾茶靚」，茶客們就著茗茶、品嚐美點、聊天聚會、遛鳥、聽曲，也使茶樓成為時人重要的社交場所。
蓮香樓的前身為廣州糕酥館，1910年起專營茶樓，並改名為連香樓，後又因翰林學士陳如岳贊其蓮蓉味美，易名蓮香樓。1918年，蓮香樓於香港開設分店，命名為省港蓮香樓。歷經逾90載，如今的蓮香樓位於中環威靈頓街，佔據所在七層唐樓曾昭灝大廈的地下及一層，樓下設賣年糕唐餅的店面，樓上則為茶室。
店內保持著舊式茶樓的風貌，四周牆壁裝飾有傳統字畫，天花板懸吊著老式的風扇、鳥籠，地上擺著痰罐，穿著白色制服的夥計來往沏茶、倒水。客人入店坐定后後可要求使用傳統的茶盅泡茶，挑選由小車推出的熱氣騰騰的點心，一品粵式茶樓的滋味。


The Lingnan tea culture has a long history. During the Qing Dynasty, the emergence of ‘Erli guan (二厘館)’ and teahouse had cultivated the distinctive Guangdong custom and traditions of tea. Guangdong tea culture pays particular attention to ‘one bowl of tea with two small plates’ (一盅兩件), and ‘hot boiling water for high quality tea leaves’ (水滾茶靚). Guests in tea gatherings play with birds and enjoy music while savouring tea and small plates, making the teahouse a most important place for socializing.

Lin Heung Tea House was formerly known as the Guangzhou Cake Shop. It was renamed as Lin Heung Tea House in 1910 and has since then been specializing in serving dim sum. The Chinese character ‘lin (meaning “to connect”)’ of the teahouse was later changed to another Chinese character with the same pronunciation ‘lin (meaning “a lotus”)’, because Chen Ruyue, the Imperial Academician, once praised the lotus paste of the teahouse.

The Hong Kong branch of the Lin Heung Tea House was opened in 1918, and was named as Guangdong Hong Kong Lin Heung Tea House. Lin Heung Tea House is now situated on Wellington Street in Central, occupying two stories of the seven-story Tsang Chiu Ho building. The ground floor of the teahouse serves Chinese cakes and pastries while a tea room is located upstairs. The ninety-year old teahouse has been well-preserved with its walls decorated with traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Antique fans and birdcages are hung from the ceiling while spittoons are provided on the floor. Guests can use traditional teapots to make tea and pick and choose their favourite foods available in a dim sum truck while being served by waiters in traditional white uniforms.