Public get to enjoy lei cha during festival celebrated by the Hopoh clan

HUNDREDS of people flocked to Kopitiam GT in Greentown Business Centre for a savoury bowl of “lei cha”, or what is known as thunder tea rice in English during the Lei Cha Festival held there recently.

The festival, which is celebrated annually on May 1 by the Perak Hopoh Association, would see the association’s members and the public sitting together to relish the traditional Hakka dish for free.

Association president Chai Wang Yook said the festival was to pay tribute to the people of the Hopoh clan, which is part of the Hakka folk.

“Lei cha is a healthy dish that comprises different kinds of vegetables and rice mixed with pounded tea.

“And in the tea itself, there are many other ingredients such as groundnuts, grains and various herbs,” he said.

After celebrating the annual festival for over a decade now, Chai noted that the number of people coming in to savour ‘lei cha’ has gradually increased over the years.

“This is probably because people are more health conscious now and they appreciate eating healthy dishes.

“The vegetables are prepared on the morning of the festival and served fresh to the people,” he said.

“As for the grounded tea, which needs more work, our association members make it the night before,” he added.

A member of the Hopoh clan, Lau Sau Ying, 60, said that she started having ‘lei cha’ ever since she was just a child.

“My grandmother used to cook it for me and my four siblings, so you can say that it is one of my long-time favourites.

“Whenever I return to Ipoh, I will definitely not miss out on savouring it before returning to Kuala Lumpur,” said the homemaker.

Lau said she had read about the festival in the newspapers and thought that it would be a good idea to take her family to enjoy the traditional dish together.

Marketing representative Vince Lew, 28, also said that ‘lei cha’ was one of his favourite dishes because it was famous for being both tasty and healthy.

“Nowadays, I am striving to lead a more healthy lifestyle.

“Besides exercising, maintaining a balanced and healthy diet is also important, that is why eating lei cha is good for me.

“Since both my parents are from the Hopoh clan, they would sometimes make this dish at home for us,” he said, adding that his family was invited to attend the festival because they were members of the association.

The festival began at noon and went on until all their food was finished.