iDrink Sam Bat Mai Kudzu Herbal Tea

Third generation tea brewers

Now in its third generation, the shop is a classic family business model in Hong Kong, specialising in only one product. In this case this is herbal tea, a dark brown home brew of Chinese medicinal herbs. When translated into English, the shop’s unique name, Sam Bat Mai (三不賣), means 'Three Things Not Sold', which is also the shop’s motto: 'Not hot, not enough ingredients, not clean, then not sold'.

Unlike other herbal tea shops, Sam Bat Mai only sells one special type of Kudzu tea. Kudzu is a type of plant, often used in traditional Chinese medicine, has the effect of clearing one’s system of toxins, or what Chinese doctors would call 'hotness'. The Kudzu tea is boiled from ginger, almond, snake-head mullet and rorippa herb.

The silent transaction

This shop's traditional retail style is known as ‘silent transaction’ where customers leave the money on the table while the tea is being poured, everybody is happy without words being exchanged.

Healthy Detox

The local believes that regular consumption of herbal tea can help detoxify your body while building up your immune system.

Our Pick

There is only ONE kind of herbal tea sold at the shop – a secret recipe has never been changed over 90 years. Price: HK$8 per glass.