TRAVELLIVE 11-2017

4.30pm, Tainan - Lazy days for afternoon tea
From Taichung, take the HSR for about two
hours to Tainan city, which in the years from
1683 to 1887, was once the capital
of Taiwan. Here you
will find many old structures
such as Anping Old Street, and
the Confucius Temple. When
walking the streets of Tainan,
you may have to exclaim: "No one
seems to be interested in opening
up shops here! Such a shame that
the houses are not used for shops!"
Tainan is a quiet city filled with
nostalgia for "lazy days", where you
can take a leisurely ride a bicycle ride through the
streets, lining up for a char siu bao, or sipping a glass of
milk bubble tea with friends during a hot summer day. .
One of the most checked-in places in Tainan is the
Hanlin Tearoom - the original birthplace of Taiwan's
bubble milk tea. In 1986, Mr. Tu Tsong, the owner
of a tea shop, came up with the idea of adding white
tapioca and milk to hot black tea. The tea which is
richly flavored by the tanginess combined with creamy
milk and the chewy texture of tapioca pearls, has since
become a popular drink all over the world, to the point
where the Taiwanese government claimed it as their
national drink.
At Hanlin Tearoom, you can enjoy the original
version of bubble milk tea, which is presented with
a pot of hot milk tea, two small cups, and a bowl of
black and white pearls on the side. If you prefer
your bubble milk tea cold, brace yourself as it is
served in a glass the size of a beer glass!
Taiwanese also like to enjoy a small dessert with
their milk tea. One of the ten most popular desserts for
the locals here is the mochi which can be stuffed with
read bean or peanut butter. A quick tip for you if you do
not have time to visit Tainan, there is a Hanlin Tearoom
store in Taichung where you can enjoy your favorite
milk tea the old-fashioned way (served hot).
ONE OF THE MOST CHECKED-IN PLACES IN TAINAN IS THE
HANLIN TEAROOM - THE ORIGINAL BIRTHPLACE OF TAIWAN'S
BUBBLE MILK TEA. IN 1986, MR. TU TSONG, THE OWNER OF
A TEA SHOP, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF ADDING WHITE
TAPIOCA AND MILK TO HOT BLACK TEA.
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TRAVELLIVE