Bing sutt facts for kids
Bing sutt (which means "ice room" in Chinese) is a special kind of traditional cafe. They first started in a city called Guangzhou (also known as Canton) and then became very popular in Hong Kong.
These cafes became well-known in the 1950s and 1960s. Bing sutts are famous for their old-fashioned look. They often have small tiled floors, fans hanging from the ceiling, and classic folding chairs. A bing sutt is a friendly, local place that serves light meals and refreshing drinks. Many people think bing sutts were the first version of the popular cha chaan teng restaurants.
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History of Bing Sutts
After World War II, people in Hong Kong started to enjoy more Western-style foods. This was when bing sutts became very popular. They created local versions of Western dishes to keep Hong Kong's unique food culture alive. Bing sutts were most popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
Traditional bing sutts mostly offered drinks and simple Western snacks. Even though they served Western-style food, they kept their prices low. This made them popular with people from all walks of life.
However, as cha chaan tengs, fast food chains, and coffee shops grew, bing sutts faced tough competition. These new places offered a much wider range of food. In the 1980s, many bing sutts had to change their menus. They started adding dishes like rice and noodles to attract more customers.
In Guangzhou, new frozen treats became popular in the 1980s. This helped bing sutts there become popular again. By the 1990s, most Guangzhou bing sutts mainly served desserts. These included tong sui (sweet soups), milk, coconut milk, and tortoise jelly. Some also served cakes, fried dumplings, soup, and fast food lunch boxes. In summer, a few bing sutts even offered ice cream and cold drinks.
Bing sutts became a big part of daily life in Guangzhou. Four famous bing sutts even emerged: Shun Kee Bing, Mei Lei Kyun Bing Sutt, Sunshine Bing Sutt, and Emperor Bing Sutt. Today, only Shun Kee Bing Sutt is still open.
Bing Sutts Today
Only a few traditional bing sutts are still open today. However, some younger people are opening new ones. They love the old-fashioned, nostalgic feel of these Hong Kong-style cafes.
Many fast food chains have also created special stores that look like old bing sutts. They want to attract customers who miss the old days. These new bing sutts are often decorated with classic furniture. You might see small tile floors, hanging fans, and folding chairs. These details remind people of the past. Some of these new bing sutts have even become popular places for tourists to visit.
Hong Kong's bing sutts first appeared in the 1960s. They copied fancy Western restaurants but offered cheap Western-style light meals. This was perfect for working-class people. They were called different names like coffee shops, tea ice rooms, or ice halls.
In the 1980s and 1990s, many bing sutts that only sold snacks closed down. The ones that remained started to operate more like tea restaurants. They began selling more types of food. As of 2007, there were only about 100 places still called "ice rooms." Most of these had opened between the 1960s and early 1970s.
Popular Foods and Drinks
Drinks
- Red bean ice: This is a sweet drink with red beans, light rock sugar syrup, and evaporated milk. It often has a large piece of ice on top.
- Yuanyang: A unique mix of coffee and tea.
- Coffee: Served either as instant coffee or made from powder.
- Fruit punch
- Hong Kong-style milk tea: Black tea mixed with evaporated milk or condensed milk.
Pastry
- Hong Kong style swiss roll: A classic cake roll with whipped cream.
- Paper wrapped cake: A light chiffon cake baked in a paper cup.
- Fruit tart
- Croissant
- Pineapple bun with butter
- Egg tart
Toast and Sandwiches
- Toast with butter
- Sandwiches
- French toast: Also called "Western Toast" in Chinese. It's often served with butter and syrup.
Other Dishes
- Macaroni in broth with fried egg and sausage
- Swiss sauce chicken wings
- Instant noodles
- Rice dishes: Served with different sauces.
Challenges for Bing Sutts
Bing sutts face many challenges to stay open in today's busy cities. One big reason they are disappearing is that people's tastes have changed. Also, the rise of cha chaan tengs has created a lot of competition.
Most bing sutts struggle with high rent and competition from cha chaan tengs. The popularity of cha chaan tengs has taken many customers away. This has caused many traditional bing sutts to close. Today, there are only about twenty bing sutts left in Hong Kong.
