On Woosung Street in Yau Ma Tei stands Kung Wo Tong, a time-honoured Hong Kong establishment that has been in business since 1904. A bowl of glossy, jet-black herbal jelly (guilinggao) has accompanied three generations of many Hong Kong families: grandparents once took their children to the old shop, and now it is our turn to take the next generation.
A Herbal Legacy from the Qing Imperial Court
The story of Kung Wo Tong begins in the Qing Dynasty. The founder's ancestors were imperial physicians, and the family brought their palace formulas south, first opening a herbal tea shop in Guangzhou before arriving in Hong Kong and putting down roots in 1904. A recipe passed from the imperial court to ordinary households thus became a familiar taste known to everyone in Hong Kong.
Signature Herbal Jelly and a Range of Homemade Herbal Teas
When people think of Kung Wo Tong, the first thing that comes to mind is its herbal jelly. "Feeling a bit 'heaty'? Have a bowl of herbal jelly!" — many people in Hong Kong have heard their elders say this. Alongside its signature herbal jelly, Kung Wo Tong has long offered a variety of homemade herbal teas and holds an important place in Hong Kong's herbal tea culture. For many years the shop has upheld the principle of "genuine ingredients, freshly made every day". This dedication to ingredients is the reason the brand has lasted more than a century and still earns the trust of the local community.
Food and Herbs Share the Same Origin: Bringing Herbs Back to the Daily Table
"Food and herbs share the same origin" is a traditional idea in Chinese food culture: many herbs are everyday ingredients that fit naturally into three meals a day. In recent years this idea has been embraced again by the younger generation, who pay closer attention to where their food comes from and increasingly appreciate the flavours of natural herbs. Kung Wo Tong's new products follow this direction, turning traditional herbal combinations into convenient everyday drinks.
From a Bowl to a Sachet: A Portable Series for Busy Lives
Life moves quickly, and not everyone has time to sit down and enjoy a bowl of herbal jelly or herbal tea. Kung Wo Tong has therefore combined tradition with modern convenience in a portable series of individual sachets:
- Prebiotic Herbal Jelly Honey Drink – keeps the traditional flavour of herbal jelly with added prebiotics; 10 sachets per box
- Aronia Berry & Goji Honey – aronia (chokeberry), goji and blueberry blended with honey for a naturally sweet taste
- Tiger Milk Mushroom & Platycodon Honey – a blend of ten herbs including tiger milk mushroom and platycodon; 20g individual sachets, 10 per box
On the way to work, while travelling or during an afternoon break, simply tear open a sachet and enjoy. The classic taste is no longer limited by time or place.
Heritage Is More Than Preservation
Hong Kong's herbal tea culture has been included in China's national list of intangible cultural heritage. True heritage is not about putting old crafts behind glass, but about making the next generation willing to taste and enjoy them. Through new ideas such as portable sachets and low-sugar custard lava mooncakes, Kung Wo Tong carries its century-old craft forward in a way that fits modern life, bringing the taste of Hong Kong from Yau Ma Tei to the world.
OhOz Direct Health Store now carries the Kung Wo Tong portable series. Hong Kong orders of HK$500 or more enjoy free delivery, and we also ship to Mainland China, Taiwan and other overseas destinations, so friends and family abroad can enjoy the familiar taste of Hong Kong.
The above products are foods/drinks, not medicines. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, young children and people with allergies should consult a doctor before consumption.