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March 10, 2016

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Latest culinary additions dish up tasty delights

By Wu Huixin | March 10, 2016, Thursday | Print Edition

SIMPLY serving tasty food isn’t enough to attract customers in today’s highly competitive catering industry, so many try to create something novel to boost their business. Some of most recent additions to Hangzhou’s restaurant and cafe scene have tried to think out-of-the-box and come with concepts rarely seen in the city. Shanghai Daily takes a look at three newcomers.

Matcha is finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea. Though it originated in China when the method of making powdered tea from steam-prepared dried tea leaves became popular in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), it boomed in Japan after Chinese powdered tea was brought there through Buddhist cultural exchange.

Today, it is used to flavor and dye food such as green tea ice cream, mocha, a Japanese glutinous rice cake, buckwheat noodles and traditional Chinese sweets. Recently, there appears to be a resurgence in matcha tea consumption, including in Hangzhou.

Breaker is one of the first matcha-themed dessert shops in Hangzhou. Its signature dessert is a simple green tea cake with layers of creamy matcha fudge. Although rich in matcha, the cake was neither overly bitter nor too rich, and became popular for its light and moist taste.

The outlet produces only a small number of quality matcha cakes and drinks. In order to provide guests with a green tea ambience, every table is equipped with a humidifier to diffuse green tea aroma.

 

Address: 2028 Jiangling Rd

Tel: (0571) 2835-0800

A batch of Thai restaurants that opened over the past few years have introduced Thai cuisine to Hangzhou. On online rating sites, Wan Oasis Curry receives top scores.

The restaurant serves authentic Thai curry, including the rather sweet massaman curry, which is very popular in Thailand although it isn’t originally from the land of smiles.

More than 10 spices have to be simmered for four to five hours to produce this flavorsome curry, which adds either chicken, beef, lamb, shrimp or crab.

Sometimes, chefs would sprinkle some preserved fruit pulp to add extra sweetness to the tangy dish.

The restaurant’s signature dish is curry crab. It is coated with a layer of starch before it’s stirred.

When it turns yellow, curry, onion, coconut milk and other ingredients are added. Topped with shredded green vegetables, it looks more appetizing.

Thai rice fried with curry and mixed with ingredients like pineapple and minced vegetables is also popular with diners.

 

Address: 229 Anye Rd

Tel: (0571) 8996-7210

Traditionally, Chinese medicine shops sell potent leaves to brew herbal teas at home, but hardly ever can you enjoy a cup right in the pharmacy. However, Hangzhou’s Huqingyutang Pharmacy has set up modern equipment to turn bitter herbs into tasty drinks. In order to adhere to authentic TCM therapy, the herb mixtures go back to centuries-old TCM recipes.

Huqingyuyang was dubbed “TCM king in jiangnan region (lower reaches of south Yangtze River)” since its establishment in 1874. By virtue of superb leechcraft, it has become one of the most prestigious pharmacies across the country. Today, its original store in Hefang Street is packed with patients every day.

According to the pharmacy, they tried many ways to produce herbal drinks using modern technology, to the point at which they had worn out a couple of coffee machines.

It wasn’t easy: In addition to guaranteeing fragrant smell and taste, they also had to adhered to old recipes.

Finally, their research and development team produces 20 varieties, each made from three to four herbs. The herbal extract is mixed with flowers, cream and juice and smooths the skin and stimulates the appetite, the pharmacy says.

In addition to drinks, the store also sells desserts that are made with natural food ingredients without any additives.

Furthermore, it is an outlet for herbs, which are packed in glass pipes and brown paper. The pharmacy also organizes TCM lectures.

 

Address: 179 Jiefang Rd

Hangzhou


 

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