‘Not just an ordinary cup’: the mystery of the takeaway paper tea cup design that became a symbol of Hong Kong
- Although instantly recognisable and ubiquitous in Hong Kong’s cha chaan teng, the ‘golden wheat’ pattern on takeaway paper cups has mysterious origins
- The design can be seen on ceramic cups and in rug patterns, and a dress recently worn by former Miss Hong Kong Louisa Mak was compared to it online
Louisa Mak Ming-sze, a former Miss Hong Kong, turned heads recently with her fashion choices.
Stepping out in an A-line Zimmermann High Tide Picnic dress with an abstract orange and yellow design melting down the bustier, Mak wasn’t being praised for her sartorial sense – but her uncanny resemblance to a takeaway paper cup of milk tea.
Once seen, it can’t be unseen. “OK, she represents Hong Kong,” wrote one user underneath an Instagram post by digital platform HolidaySmart, which was among the first to point out the resemblance. “It’s exactly the same,” joked another. “I thought she was a walking ad for the cup design.”
The pattern – swaying stalks of orange and yellow wheat – which features on most cha chaan teng takeaway cups, is undoubtedly an iconic Hong Kong design.
Like the red, white and blue plastic storage bags or the teardrop-shaped patterns of the Mister Softee ice-cream truck, it is a visual language that represents a cultural artefact of the city.
