"Wok-fried Longjing tea with river prawns adopts something from the mountains and something from the water in Hangzhou," says Colin Cheng, chef of 28 Hubin Road. "It's the dish to represent Hangzhou."
Longjing tea river prawns —
"Wok-fried Longjing tea with river prawns adopts something from the mountains and something from the water in Hangzhou," says Colin Cheng, chef of 28 Hubin Road. "It's the dish to represent Hangzhou."
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Vicky Lau, chef and owner of Tate Dining Room in Hong Kong, travels to Hangzhou to learn about the city's iconic dish from Cheng (right).
Lau and Cheng —
Vicky Lau, chef and owner of Tate Dining Room in Hong Kong, travels to Hangzhou to learn about the city's iconic dish from Cheng (right).
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A specialty from Hangzhou's Longjing mountain area, Longjing tea is considered some of the best in China. It's also one of the key ingredients used in the dish.
Longjing tea —
A specialty from Hangzhou's Longjing mountain area, Longjing tea is considered some of the best in China. It's also one of the key ingredients used in the dish.
hiufu wong/cnn
The Longjing tea village at West Lake, Hangzhou is one of China's official 10 most famous scenic spots. It's also home to the 18 shrubs of tea plants that were once chosen to serve the ancient emperor of China.
Longjing tea village —
The Longjing tea village at West Lake, Hangzhou is one of China's official 10 most famous scenic spots. It's also home to the 18 shrubs of tea plants that were once chosen to serve the ancient emperor of China.
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The area has some favorable characteristics to help nurture the tea plants. Tea-lovers from all over China come to buy the best tea during the spring tea season.
Tea season —
The area has some favorable characteristics to help nurture the tea plants. Tea-lovers from all over China come to buy the best tea during the spring tea season.
hiufu wong/cnn
"In Chinese food we incorporate food into our everyday meal much more than western way," says Lau. "Maybe western way people would normally drink tea after a meal, but in Chinese cuisine you would drink it together with the meal."
Tea culture —
"In Chinese food we incorporate food into our everyday meal much more than western way," says Lau. "Maybe western way people would normally drink tea after a meal, but in Chinese cuisine you would drink it together with the meal."
hiufu wong/cnn
Longjing tea is a delicate tea leaf, the water can't be too hot or too cold -- precisely at 85C. "It's got a very toasty flavor so it definitely goes with food very well,"Wan (right) tells Lau. <br />
Tea master —
Longjing tea is a delicate tea leaf, the water can't be too hot or too cold -- precisely at 85C. "It's got a very toasty flavor so it definitely goes with food very well,"Wan (right) tells Lau.
hiufu wong/cnn
Cheng tours the market every morning before work and sees if any fresh seasonal ingredients that can be added to the menu.
Daily treasure hunt —
Cheng tours the market every morning before work and sees if any fresh seasonal ingredients that can be added to the menu.
hiufu wong/cnn
South of Jiangsu produces the best river prawns for the dish. They have tighter meat -- a more desirable texture for the dish.
The prawns —
South of Jiangsu produces the best river prawns for the dish. They have tighter meat -- a more desirable texture for the dish.
hiufu wong/cnn
When Lau and Cheng meet, they speak in another tongue -- food. They make a detour during the trip to find an ingredient that interests Lau -- dried Bamboo shoots. "I saw them in Cheng's kitchen last night and I never seen them in Hong Kong before," says Lau.
A detour —
When Lau and Cheng meet, they speak in another tongue -- food. They make a detour during the trip to find an ingredient that interests Lau -- dried Bamboo shoots. "I saw them in Cheng's kitchen last night and I never seen them in Hong Kong before," says Lau.
hiufu wong/cnn
Lau says she understands the importance of Longjing tea river prawn to Hangzhou after the journey. "Coming here to Hangzhou and the river as well as the Longjing tea farm are such a highlight. That's why it's natural to put the two highlights of Hangzhou together."<br />
Prawn respect —
Lau says she understands the importance of Longjing tea river prawn to Hangzhou after the journey. "Coming here to Hangzhou and the river as well as the Longjing tea farm are such a highlight. That's why it's natural to put the two highlights of Hangzhou together."
hiufu wong/cnn