Yuenyeung (, often transliterated according to the Cantonese language pronunciation yuenyeung, yinyeung, or yinyong; yuānyāng in Mandarin) is a drink created by mixing coffee with milk tea. It originated in Hong Kong at dai pai dong (open-air food vendors) and cha chaan teng (cafés), but is now available in various types of restaurants.
The exact method of creating yuenyeung varies by vendor and region, but it generally consists of brewed coffee and black tea with sugar and milk. According to the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the mixture is three parts coffee and seven parts Hong Kong–style milk tea. It can be served hot or cold.
Etymology
The name yuenyeung refers to mandarin ducks (yuanyang), which is a symbol of conjugal love in Chinese culture, as the birds usually appear in pairs and the male and female look very different. This same connotation of a "pair" of two unlike items is used to name this drink. Its claim for yuenyeung is unverified, but that for silk-stocking milk tea is generally supported.
Adoption
In summer 2010, Starbucks stores in Hong Kong and Macau promoted a frappuccino version of the drink. It was sold as the "Yuen Yeung Frappuccino Blended Cream".
The drink is also common in Malaysia, where it is known as "kopi cham", from Malay kopi ('coffee') and Hokkien .
Children's yuenyeung
There is a caffeine-free variant of yuenyeung, called children's yuenyeung (). It is made using Horlicks and Ovaltine, malted milk drink mixes that are common in Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (cafés).
See also
- List of coffee beverages
- Yuenyeung fried rice