Tropical storm Pablo's havoc in Mindanao had somehow altered an otherwise pleasant weather in Hong Kong. The cold and drizzle were reasons enough to take refuge in a traditional herbal tea shop in Sheung Wan, particularly gulping down a bitter concoction for my gut ailment. The shop, Tung Lok Tong - located at the corner of Queen's Road Central and the pedestrian steps towards Hillier Street, offers a collection of unique brews serving as elixir to a specific malady: sore throat, fever, pimples, dysmenorrhea, colds, gas-pain ...whatever.                                                                                                

A customer-gentleman was so nice to help me around choosing which brew, after I apologized to the Chinese lady storekeeper for being solecistic.  A passer-by patron caught my attention who hurriedly sipped her tea as she stood by the sidewalk. But I chose to be served in the comfort of one of the round tables indoors.  Two small glass jars bedeck table-tops, one that seem to contain salt and the other, honey - for flavoring the tea, I surmise.

It took awhile to finish the dark exotic blend, not only because it was piping hot, but it was tortuously bitter for my taste.  The tang chi (Chinese soup spoon) that was provided did help.

Paid HK$8 in loose change for the detoxification on my way out of the tea house. The drizzle had not stopped and made the walkways more slippery as I headed precariously (and weighed down by heavy photographic gear) towards Sheung Wan MTR station for my trip back to Tsim Sha Tsui.

I woke up the following morning wanting to relieve myself in no time to the bathroom. The effects of relief never felt so good after that.

I had wandered around Binondo, the biggest Chinatown I know of, figuring out days on end if such a similar herbal tea house exist - but all for naught.  However, there are these usual Chinese drugstores that include dried herbs, flowers, barks, and whatever natural medication source that are in their inventory.  So for those who feel the urge to take the DIY route, here is the mixture of the brew I drank which proportions (weight or volume) my competency is inadequate of any worth sharing:

Honeysuckle flower
Dandelion Herb
Viola yeodensis flower
Wild Chrysanthemum flower
Forsythia fruit

A potent antidote for clearing bad bacteria from the digestive system.

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HOW TO GET THERE

From Sheung Wan MTR Station, get out of Exit E2 and walk south towards Queen's Road Central. Turn left and stay on the right of the road. Continue walking till you reach Hillier Street where Tung Lok Tong is located at the corner on your right. It is very easy to miss the tiny shop - so as supplemental reference, exactly opposite the tea shop, across Queen's Road C, is Wellcome Supermarket.




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