Hop Shing Dessert represents almost seven decades of cherished Chiu Chau (Teochew, a historical city located in southern China) traditions. Embodying the Chiu Chau belief that home is a person's soul and family is paramount, this three-generation enterprise transformed from a humble stall in Sham Shui Po to a notable establishment in Kowloon City. The owner handles orders and welcomes customers, his wife manages payments, while his brother masterfully crafts the sweet delicacies.

Mung beans（綠豆） are a common ingredient in Cantonese desserts for their sweet flavor, smooth texture when cooked, and their cooling properties according to traditional Chinese medicine. Desserts like mung bean soup or "luk dou tong sui" (mung bean soup) are popular, especially in summer to help cool the body.

Mung beans are often used in sweet soups, puddings, and in fillings for pastries. They're typically boiled until soft, blended into a paste, and sweetened with sugar. The end result is a subtly sweet and creamy dessert that's not only delicious but also nutritious, as mung beans are rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants.

Additionally, according to traditional Chinese medicine, mung beans are considered 'yin' or cooling. They're believed to help balance the body's heat, especially in the hot summer months, making mung bean-based desserts a popular choice for both their taste and their perceived health benefits.

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Their desserts are distinctively Chiu Chau style, known for being hearty and filling. Historically, the Chiu Chau community, mostly manual laborers, preferred big serving size meals, hence their desserts are ingredient-rich. Hop Shing now offers more than 90 types of desserts, including both traditional and modernized items that allow you to mix and match based on your preference of ingredients.

Mung bean sweet soup with ''Clear heart balls''(潮州綠豆邊清心丸) No.37 on the menu, $40

"Clear heart balls" (清心丸) is a Chiu Chau dessert Jelly Cubes with a slippery and gelatinous texture, made from a plant's tuber. It resembles Chinese sweet dumplings but is chewier and less sweet. Renowned for its cooling effects, its name signifies a calming mood. 

Tofu Skin Sweet Soup with ''Clear heart balls''(冰花腐竹清心丸)

Tofu skin （腐竹） is a popular ingredient in many Asian cuisines, particularly in Chinese and Japanese dishes. It's a food product made from soybeans and is created during the boiling of soy milk, in an open shallow pan, where a film or skin forms on the liquid's surface. The film is then dried into yellowish sheets or sticks which can be purchased in supermarkets, often in a dried or frozen form.

Mung bean water chestnut sweet soup(冰凍馬蹄沙綠豆) No.64 on the menu, $43

Water chestnuts (馬蹄) are a popular aquatic vegetable in Asian cuisines. Contrary to their name, they're not nuts, but tubers. They're characterized by their round shape, brown-black exterior, and crisp, white interior. With a sweet, nutty flavor and a texture that remains crunchy even after cooking, water chestnuts are a unique ingredient in stir-fries, dumplings, and soups. They're also used in desserts and drinks. Besides their delicious taste, they're low in calories but high in fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, and manganese, making them a healthy choice.

This refreshing dessert soup is a staple in Hong Kong, particularly during the hot summer months. In this dessert, the water chestnuts are boiled until they become soft and are then mixed with rock sugar and water to create a sweet, crystal-clear soup. Often, the dessert is served with "ice flowers(冰花)" - a layer of ice that forms on the surface of the soup when it is chilled, adding a visually appealing and texturally interesting element.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to witness the insane ability of the shop’s daughters being able to rattle off the dessert names by rote memory corresponding to the numbers on the menu. There are 90 desserts in total — you do the math.