The Iron Arhat Tea

Everyone knows the popularity of Chinese tea as well as the social and cultural functions of tea. Tea is also the depository of historical memories and is the inspiration for this documentary, The Iron Arhat Tea.

Blended by Singapore heritage tea house Pek Sin Choon, the Iron Arhat tea captures the history of Nanyang Chinese before and during the Sino-Japanese War. News of Japanese aggression arrived in Nanyang. The Nanyang Chinese asked what they could do for China.

It led to the founding of the China Relief Fund headquartered at Ee Hoe Hean Club. They also responded and sent Nanyang Volunteers to serve on the Burma Road.

After the war, Nanyang Chinese faced a sea of change and was caught in the middle of political changes; the climate was not conducive for prewar research. Luckily, the Iron Arhat Tea continues to be sold and drunk. This history resides in the tea waiting for this history to be told.

The Iron Arhat tea history is in the same period as "Light on the Lotus Hill" and reflects a different facet of Nanyang Chinese’s responses to the Sino-Japanese War.

Head down to Pek Sin Choon in Singapore and buy the Iron Arhat Tea. Enjoy the tea and explore a forgotten piece of history.

Related articles:

Food culture

Documentary page

The Burma Road where Nanyang Volunteers drove