Hui Lau Shan () is a chain of dessert shops based in

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

. Founded in the 1960s as a

herbal tea Herbal teas, technically known as herbal infusions, and less commonly called tisanes (UK and US , US also ), are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water. Often herb tea, or the plai ...

outlet, the chain evolved into a restaurant chain specializing in sweets, snacks and dessert soups called

tong sui ''Tong sui'' (; ) or ''tim tong'' is a general term for any sweet soup served as a dessert typically at the end of a meal in Chinese cuisine. ''Tong sui'' originated in the Lingnan region of China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hon ...

. Since the introduction of mango pomelo sago in the early 1990s, Hui Lau Shan has additionally been known for its mango-themed desserts. The chain was acquired by Royal Dynasty International Holding Company, a mainland Chinese catering chain in 2015 for 524 million RMB. Its Hong Kong business was filed for winding-up in 2020, with Hui Lau Shan citing declined customers attributed to the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests. A settlement was subsequently reached whereby the winding-up petition was withdrawn in July 2020.

History

Hui Lau Shan was founded by Hui Chi-Yuk in the 1960s. The chain's first shop opened in Yuen Long, New Territories, and started as an herbal outlet selling turtle jelly () and

herbal teas Herbal teas, technically known as herbal infusions, and less commonly called tisanes (UK and US , US also ), are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water. Often herb tea, or the plain t ...

(). In the 1980s, Hui Lau Shan diversified its business and began to sell desserts and snacks like

turnip cake Turnip cake is a Chinese dim sum dish. The less common name radish cake is more accurate, as Western-style turnips are not used in the dish but rather shredded radish (typically Chinese radish) and plain rice flour. It is traditionally called ...

and

coconut milk Coconut milk is a plant milk extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of the milky-white liquid are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food ingred ...

. The practice of using of fresh fruits in desserts emerge in the 1990s, when third generation of Hui Lau Shan created the " Mango Sago". Every year, Hui Lau Shan used up to a thousand tonnes of carabao mangoes in their dessert making process. Since the 1990s, the chain has expanded, with over 260 outlets in China, Malaysia, the United States and South Korea. In July 2007, the third-generation owner of Hui Lau Shan sold the Hong Kong franchise to the Malaysian firm Navis Capital Partners. Owing to disputes by the new Malaysian shareholder over an existing franchising agreement signed between Hui Lau Shan Hong Kong and Hui Lau Shan Guangzhou, the latter was forced to change its brand name to "Tang Lau Shan" (). The franchise was subsequently acquired by Royal Dynasty International Holding Company for 524 million RMB in 2015.

Liquidation

End of business

References

External links

Official website
{{Hong Kong restaurants Hong Kong brands Food and drink companies of Hong Kong Restaurant chains in Hong Kong

History

Liquidation

End of business

References

Further reading

External links