Quick answer: Yuen yeung (also spelled yuenyeung or yuan yang) is a Hong Kong drink made by mixing coffee with Hong Kong-style milk tea, a strong black tea sweetened and whitened with evaporated or condensed milk. The classic ratio is three parts coffee to seven parts milk tea. It is served hot or iced in cha chaan teng cafés.
Yuen yeung, also known as yin yeung or yin yong, is a Cantonese drink you can order at Hong Kong-style cafés and Asian bakeries. It started as a street-stall drink and is now a staple of Hong Kong diners. In summer 2010, Starbucks stores in Hong Kong and Macau even sold a Yuen Yeung Frappuccino.
For those of us who grew up with it, there isn’t a better treat than a hot cup of yuen yeung and a pineapple bun from an Asian bakery.
In this guide 5 sections
What is yuen yeung made of?
Yuen yeung is two drinks in one cup: coffee and Hong Kong milk tea. What makes it different from simply adding tea to a latte is the milk tea itself. If you want caffeine without coffee, see our list of coffee alternatives with caffeine.
Hong Kong-style milk tea dates from British colonial rule, when black tea with milk became popular locally. Instead of fresh milk, Hong Kong cafés use evaporated milk, which is more concentrated and doesn’t water the tea down. That gives the drink its smooth, creamy body. Some versions use sweetened condensed milk instead.
The traditional ratio is three parts coffee to seven parts milk tea. Plenty of people prefer half and half, so start with 3:7 and adjust to taste.
What does yuen yeung taste like?
In a good cup, neither the coffee nor the tea takes over. They balance into something new: sweet and creamy, with a hint of bitterness from the coffee and the tannic edge of strong black tea. The milk is at the front, and the thick evaporated milk gives it more body than a regular cup of coffee.
Mixing coffee and tea may sound wrong, but it works. If you drink black coffee it may taste like a dessert; the closest comparison I can make is brown sugar bubble milk tea.
How to make yuen yeung at home
Ingredients (makes about 2 cups)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons loose-leaf black tea (or 4 tea bags)
- Evaporated milk (or sweetened condensed milk) to taste
- Sugar to taste, if using evaporated milk
- Brewed coffee or a shot of espresso
Which tea to use
Hong Kong milk tea is brewed very strong because the milk will dilute it. Cafés use their own blends of black teas, usually built on Ceylon. If you can’t find a Hong Kong blend, any strong black tea will do; even ordinary black tea bags work in a pinch.
Steps
- Brew the tea strong. Combine the tea and water in a pot, bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for about 3 minutes.
- Strain it. Pour the tea through a fine strainer or a cloth tea bag. Hong Kong cafés use a cotton bag that, stained brown, looks like a stocking, which is why the drink is nicknamed “silk stocking milk tea.”
- Add the milk. Stir in evaporated milk (and sugar) or condensed milk until it is as creamy and sweet as you like.
- Make the coffee. Brew a strong cup of coffee or pull a shot of espresso.
- Combine. Pour the coffee into the milk tea, starting with three parts coffee to seven parts milk tea, and taste.
Iced yuen yeung
My favorite way to drink it is iced: I chill the milk tea in the fridge and then pour it over ice with a fresh espresso shot. If you pour hot yuen yeung over ice, the ice melts and dilutes the drink, so I often make an extra batch of milk tea and keep it cold for later.
Tips for enjoying yuen yeung
For the full experience, drink hot yuen yeung from a thick-walled Hong Kong diner-style mug. Anyone who has been to a Hong Kong café will recognize it, and the thick walls keep the drink warm for longer.
Pair it with a traditional Chinese bakery item: a pineapple bun or a dan tat (egg tart) is the classic match. For more ideas, see our guide to coffee and food pairings.
Frequently asked questions
What does yuen yeung mean?
Yuen yeung is the Cantonese name for mandarin ducks, which are traditionally seen in pairs. The name reflects the pairing of two different drinks, coffee and tea, in one cup.
What is the ratio of coffee to milk tea in yuen yeung?
The traditional ratio is three parts coffee to seven parts Hong Kong milk tea. Many people prefer a 1:1 mix, so adjust it to how strong you want the coffee to come through.
Does yuen yeung have more caffeine than coffee?
Yuen yeung contains caffeine from both the coffee and the tea, but because the coffee is only part of the cup, a serving usually isn’t stronger than a regular cup of coffee. The exact amount depends on how strong you brew each part. See how much caffeine is in coffee for typical numbers.
Is yuen yeung served hot or cold?
Both. Hong Kong cafés serve it hot in thick mugs or iced in a tall glass.
Like Asian coffee drinks? Try Vietnamese phin coffee or dalgona coffee, or browse our guide to the different types of coffee.