My mom has always been pretty critical about “outside food”, and every once in a while, she would volunteer to chip to my kitchen renovation fund with some of her hard earned money so that perhaps I could cook a little more.
Well, mom, the kitchen will be taken care of eventually, and in the mean time, worry no more, I have finally found the disgustingly healthy hawker food – Lui Cha (擂茶)
Lui Cha – brown rice, nuts, tofu, and lots of vegetable
Lui Cha literally means pounded tea in Cantonese, which described the way the way the soup is made – by pounding mixture of tea leaves and possibly mints to a very minty green tea like liquid. The soup accompanies a bowl of brown rice topped with plenty of nuts (or roast soy beans), chopped long beans, tofu, pickled as well as fresh vegetable.
mix it, eat it separately, drink the soup, it’s up to you
You can now find quite a number of kopitiam and hawker centers selling this traditional Hakka dish, I had my first one at New Yew Sang kopitiam at Kelana Jaya, recommended by Cheesie (there’s another one at Ho Weng Kee at SS2, which also has this nice wan tan mee).
The reason it took me this long to try Lui Cha is basically the fact that it’s all green with no animal killed in the production, but after tasting it, I must confess that I actually find it rather tasty.
The brown rice is quite sweet, the combination of nuts and all that vegetable gives a very fresh and crunchy texture while the pickled vegetable chipping in with a little bit of saltiness for that extra dimension. It was nice.
it was well, quite tasty actually!
I think most people like to mix the dry bowl with the soup, but after experimenting with mixing them in the spoon, I find my taste buds agree more with having the rice and vegetables/nuts separately, and in the end, I didn’t exactly finish the soup. I guess I probably only salvaged 65% of the goodness from the whole dish, but one can never ask for too much. 
Address:
New Yee Sang kopitiam
Jalan SS 6/8
Kelana Jaya
GPS: 3.106717, 101.598178
On another non related note, check out Joyce’s interview on the new BB curve from Xpax, preregister for one here
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By Huai Bin on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
This is very close to where I live. Looks like great stuff, have been hearing a couple of coworkers talking about it, not sure if they’re talking about this place.
By Z0E on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
Yesh! Vegetarian is the way and that’s my fav veg dish.
By Robb on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
looks a bit too green to my likings.
By kimberlycun on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
it’s one of my fav food in the world. no guilt! haha
By Valerie on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
This brings back memories! I used to have it EVERY Sunday at my late grandfather’s house and also every week at home while growing up . It’s Hakka and for some strange reason my family call it by ‘Ham cha’.(salty tea?) There is actually another condiment that is added to the tea that is a salt+coriander mixture if I’m not mistaken, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it served outside so maybe it’s a long lost tradition or smthg.
I’m definitely gonna ask my mum to teach me the original recipe when I go back! Grinding peanuts manually like the olden days should be fun all over again! Oh so nostalgic..
By Crystal on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
hahahha i tried it once but i cant tahan! the vege smell is too great and the one i had was way more greener…. =_=
By KY on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
Huai Bin,
They should be!
Z0E,
Vegetarian is.. not the only way
Robb,
Hahaha, cos no pork?
kimberlycun,
Not pork scratching? LOL
Valerie,
Wah so hardcore, share the recipe ok!
Crystal,
Hahaha this one wasn’t bad at all though
By cheesie on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
it is ze awesomessssssssss!
By Leo on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
I assume that u r not a Hakka then
nowadays most people have already used machinery to grind the ingredients for the soup… far cry from the older days when my grandma used a special pot with guava branch to grind! Lack of those “yan hei” I’d say! But then if you are really into this dish… click on this site
http://superpages.com.my/superhome/restaurants/restaurant-lui-cha-king-%E5%AE%A2%E5%AE%B6%E9%9B%B7%E8%8C%B6-87471.html
I’m a Hakka… and I eat this dish almost every week coz my mom prepares it for me
By jean` on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
i agree with cheesie! totally AWESOME!
when i first had it, it tasted only so-so
then after a few rounds of OT food (fast food) it is my saviour T_______T
By lb on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
oh lui-cha aka ham-cha there’s a pretty good one in Seremban…
hidden somewhere in a village, family style…open from 11am to 3pm …closed on monday wednesday and friday…can see big big cars around during business hours…
oh,ok, cheesie already told you that,oops
By STUMPBO on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
Not everyone likes Lei Cha. My first time trying it I didn’t like it, especially the green minty soup. I still do not touch the soup. I like to add braised pork leg gravy or other gravy on my Lei Cha. Taste better, haha!
By KY on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
cheesie,
Oh yess!
Leo,
, you’re right, I’m hokkien, not hakka. 
Wah, such a luxury!
jean`,
OoO very interesting.
lb,
No she didn’t tell me! lol
STUMPBO,
Hahahhaa, braised pork leg gravy would go well, I agree. LOL
By OMG on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
I am a Fan of Lei Cha (客家擂茶). It is not just healthy. It helps heal high blood pressure, reduce weight and improve ones complexion. Long term consumption of Lei Cha too, increases life longevity. It not only contains high fibre from vegetables that improves ones digestion system, but it also provides rich groups of vitamins, depending onthe ingredients the chef uses.
My favourite place to visit:
Big Big Bowl
No31, Jalan Metro Prima Barat 2,
Taman Usahawan Kepong, right opposite Jusco Kepong
or you may try here:
Wang Seng hawker stalls in Aman Puri. Almost the end of the road. Cannot recall Gerai No.
Both these places Lei Cha is thick and yummy1 Enjoy…
By eiling on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
eeww…i never liked the lui cha thingy. It makes you chew and chew and still chew!
By JD on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
Never tried it before…and don’t think will in the future.
By KY on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
OMG,
Wah another lui cha professional! Thanks!
eiling,
Hahaha maybe you had some lousy ones.
JD,
ahhh, never say never.
By dy on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
omg! i miss eating this! i practically grew up eating lui cha (once a week). now only get to eat it on the first day of chinese new year. =(
hey, you should mix the soup in, looks disgusting but taste BEST!
By jg on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
yeah, lui cha is my fav. when i was in kuching. it’s hakka food right?
By xes on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
Too much vege for my liking. saks!!
By sotong on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
I like lui cha because of the nuts and fresh vegetables… not bad..
Note: If you are lazying to go out for the lui cha.. try this delivery to your doorstep! >>> http://www.greenlife.com.my/main
By KY on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
dy,
ooo, mixing the soup, i tried, not my cup of tea/soup… yet.
jg,
Yah it’s hakka food.
xes,
LOL, exactly what i thought!
sotong,
Oooo yah interesting!
By zoe on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
best! my fav food
By whimsicaljottings on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
OMG this place is right next door to where I used to work *sniffsniff* I like the Ipoh “upside down” rice with salted fish at this shop. I think Cheesie is having soup from their stall. The chap fan is also awesome.
Huai Bin, your apartment is the spanking new one eh? Dont park your car on the lorongs there, MBPJ LOVES to saman. Esp when people are having lunch >___< And I digress, but you should try the rojak opposite the "small Giant". He sells from a van. Go for the sotong version YUMSS.
By KY on Sep 25, 2009 | Reply
zoe,
Yewwww lol
whimsicaljottings,
upside down rice? Interesting, hhmmmm thanks for the tips
By Simon Seow on Sep 25, 2009 | Reply
I used to eat Lui Cha for lunch in the Oasis food court when I was working in Mid Valley a few years ago.
By KY on Sep 25, 2009 | Reply
Simon Seow,
Eat more!
By Jac on Sep 25, 2009 | Reply
i’ve tried this lui cha before at this coffee shop.. the coffee shop has steamed soup right? but i don’t remember them having brown rice!
By riko on Sep 26, 2009 | Reply
lui cha, i guess is one of the healthiest meal of the hakka cuisine. unfortunately some people may not like the taste of the mint soup. i too.like to have them separately. KY.. this is a good one. and ur blog is interesting.
By Myhorng on Sep 26, 2009 | Reply
this is something really healthy. i will have that from time to time. when i feel healthy.
By KY on Sep 27, 2009 | Reply
Jac,
Yess there’s steamed soup too, correct!
riko,
Hahah yah, thank you very much.
Myhorng,
Hahaha yah, like once in 6 month.
By winsern on Sep 27, 2009 | Reply
come la kelantan eat some kerabu…
By vialentino on Sep 27, 2009 | Reply
not sure the lui char taste at this restaurant. btw, i dun like to eat lui char…but after trying one of the lui char stall at a foodcourt at puchong….i start to love it. heard it served good lui char and lots of ppl eat there too….
By Renise on Sep 27, 2009 | Reply
hii… got here from adsense. :]
you have a great blog about food.
yumm yummy~
By KY on Sep 27, 2009 | Reply
winsern,
O.o but it’s farrrr
vialentino,
Ooo interesting, I guess it’s a bit of an acquired taste.
Renise,
Haha thanks thanks.