蓮香樓 廣州

Students’ Guide – What to Eat

This time I would like to introduce Lianxiang Lou, renowned for having the best lotus seed paste. Along with Taotaoju, it is one of the two remaining century-old tea houses in Guangzhou with over a hundred years of history.

★ Dishes:

• Xiguan Savory Pancake

• Lianxiang Shrimp Dumplings

• Fresh Shrimp Steamed Siu Mai

• Olive Seed Saqima

• Flaky Pastry Egg Tart

• Signature Lotus Seed Paste Bun

• Turtle Jelly (Complimentary Gift)

★ Thoughts:
During the weekday dim sum, the crowd is still lively.

Recommended Dishes:

1. Lianxiang Shrimp Dumplings: Having dined at several dim sum places in Guangzhou, including Taotaoju, I was absolutely amazed by this dish at Lianxiang Lou! The skin is thin and the filling has a chewy texture, packed with fresh shrimp flavor. The shrimp is springy and the filling is solid with moderate saltiness, making dipping unnecessary! Recommendation score: Perfect.

2. Fresh Shrimp Steamed Siu Mai: This is also a must-order, as the texture and the springiness of the shrimp combined with the solid filling convey a strong sense of sincerity.

3. Signature Lotus Seed Paste Bun: Truly deserving of its reputation as the best lotus seed paste, if you’re familiar with Maxim’s mooncake lotus paste, its taste is similar. The ingredients are generous; I felt it was worth enjoying with a pot of good tea.

4. Turtle Jelly: It’s my first time trying this dessert; it has a sweetness and no bitterness, and since it’s complimentary, it’s definitely worth trying for the small dessert.

Try These Interesting Options:

1. Xiguan Savory Pancake: One of the delicious three treasures of fried dough, often paired with congee. It is also a common breakfast snack; its flavor is a mix of sweet and savory, best enjoyed hot straight out of the oven. However, the texture can feel greasy toward the end. It is suitable for reheating to reduce the oiliness.
   (Three Treasures of Fried Dough: Youtiao, Niu Li Su, and Savory Pancake)

Consider Ordering Based on the Situation:

1. Olive Seed Saqima: Most Saqima in Guangzhou tea houses are freshly fried; the difference from Taiwan's version is that it lacks sufficient frying to remove oil. Eating this can feel a bit burdensome and greasy. It also lacks the crispiness of fried items, being relatively soft; I wouldn’t order this again on my next visit.

2. Flaky Pastry Egg Tart: A Cantonese egg tart. I’m not an expert on Cantonese egg tarts, but they should definitely be eaten hot!

Lianxiang Lou is a tea house I would want to revisit on my next trip to Guangzhou; I recommend it to everyone.

★ Waiting Time:
About 5-10 minutes, with dishes served continually.