Jun 13 2024, 09:02 AM, updated 2 months ago
| No. | Aspect | Description |
| ----- | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1. | Language | Teochew dialect, a variant of Southern Min, spoken by Teochew people |
| 2. | Cuisine | Known for its seafood dishes, noodle soups (like Teochew porridge), and pastries |
| 3. | Opera | Teochew opera (潮剧), known for its distinctive music, singing, and gestures |
| 4. | Festivals | Celebrates major Chinese festivals like Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival |
| 5. | Architecture | Traditional Teochew architecture often features intricate woodwork and motifs |
| 6. | Clan Associations | Important for social cohesion and cultural preservation among Teochew diaspora |
| 7. | Cultural Practices | Includes tea ceremonies, ancestor veneration rituals, and traditional weddings |
| 8. | Migration History | Teochew people migrated to various parts of Southeast Asia for economic opportunities |
Teochew Cultural & Food Festival 2023
Date: 24-26 November 2023 , Friday -Sunday;
Location: Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza (391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238873)
| 日期 | 星期 | 潮州美食开放时间 | 備註＊＊＊ |
| ------------- | --------- | ------------------------- | --------------------- |
| 24.11.2023 | 星期五 | 10am – 2pm; 5pm – 9pm | 仅限持有赠券者 |
| 25.11.2023 | 星期六 | 10am – 2pm; 5pm – 9pm | 仅限持有赠券者 |
| 26.11.2023 | 星期日 | 10am – 2pm; 5pm – 9pm | 仅限持有赠券者 |
"Thin Tea, Thick Sentiment" in Teochew Dialect
Teochew people are fond of drinking kung fu tea. When guests visit, they always light a fire, boil water, and make tea to entertain them.
While enthusiastically offering tea, the host often modestly says, “茶薄人情厚” ("chá bó rén qíng hòu"), which translates to "thin tea, thick sentiment."
The custom of drinking kung fu tea among Teochew people has a long history and has developed a distinctive set of practices. The saying "thin tea, thick sentiment" means that although the tea is weak, the sentiment is strong.
"Thin" implies insipidness, while "thick" denotes profundity. This phrase not only reflects the Teochew people's hospitality but also their tradition of drinking kung fu tea.
There is a legend from the Qing Dynasty about a wealthy young man who was an avid tea lover, often spending large sums on famous teas. He once paid a thousand taels of silver for an ounce of Wuyi rock tea.
His obsession with tea led to his ruin, and he ended up wandering with only his tea-brewing skills and a tea-stained "Su pot" (a small teapot made in Yixing, Jiangsu).
One day, he wandered to the doorstep of a wealthy family, hoping for some food and hot water to brew tea. The host gave him some leftovers and sent him away. When he asked for hot water to brew tea, the host laughed, nearly falling off his chair: "You can't even fill your stomach, and you still want to drink tea?"
Seeing his teapot was a genuine Yixing product, the host offered to buy it. However, the young man, who treasured his teapot dearly, refused to sell it and continued wandering.
Eventually, he reached a village "leisure hall," where some elderly farmers were brewing kung fu tea and chatting happily. They welcomed him warmly and offered him tea.
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Deeply touched by their hospitality, he drank the tea, though he knew from the color it was inferior "old tea."
The host apologized, saying the tea had been brewed many times and they couldn't afford better tea.
The young man reassured them, saying, "It's okay, it's okay, thin tea, thick sentiment." He then used his teapot to brew a fresh batch of tea for everyone to taste. They were astonished by the fragrant aroma and had never tasted such good tea.
Realizing he must be someone special, the villagers invited him to stay. They pooled their money to convert the "leisure hall" into a tea shop and hired him as the "tea brewing master."
Moved by the villagers' kindness, he decided to stay and prominently displayed a sign at the tea shop's entrance: "Thin Tea, Thick Sentiment."
This post has been edited by plouffle0789: Jul 26 2025, 09:32 PM
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