Authentic Christmas Markets in Copenhagen and Shanghai

Method of Visit: The food author visited these places: Shanghai Century Avenue published on December 4, 2019, at 23:56 [Christmas] Every year in November, when the aroma of Christmas is at its peak, I am usually wandering abroad. Foreigners also flock to markets during their Spring Festival, which we call the New Year’s market, and they call the Christmas market. One must not wander aimlessly, or else one might drool uncontrollably. Last week in Copenhagen, a socialist revolutionary old district approximately 7500 kilometers away from Shanghai, China, I tasted the Christmas market of the fairy tale kingdom of Denmark. The blind beauty brought by such distance is more exhilarating than the excitement southern children feel when they see snow. At this time, the core commercial streets of Copenhagen are dreamy, with buildings connected by strings of red heart-shaped lights, resembling the arms of lovers. The entire street has a poetic name, ‘Sweet Street,’ which made me swallow my saliva as I spoke. How surreal it was! I saw the street scenes from the ‘Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales’ that my mother read to me as a child, and the miniature Barbie doll villa about one meter high that my father bought for me, right before my eyes. Denmark has many immigrants, possibly due to the good government welfare, even the ordinary canteen lunch supplies are organic ingredients. I woke up early and had breakfast at the hotel’s buffet, where I tasted four different types of tomatoes, something many Michelin-starred restaurants cannot achieve. During this season, strolling on the streets is even more fascinating. It is not the adult revelry of lights and wine, but the happiness that a fairy tale kingdom should have, naturally innocent. I wandered inside, and even the bears in the snow and the golden stars would smile. However, the temperature in Copenhagen is warmer than in the original Christmas stories, and I wonder if Santa Claus and reindeer would complain. To make the Christmas atmosphere even more dreamy, Danish buildings are deliberately decorated with artificial snow. I think this is something southern China can learn from; if nature doesn’t provide the snow, we can create it ourselves. The people here are very friendly, and as I pass by each Christmas market stall, the owners would poke their heads out to greet me. They come from different countries. The French boss thinks the milk source here is good for making cheese, and the Italian boss likes the wheat here for making pasta; everyone has their own reason to love Copenhagen. The taste of ginger blends borderlessly into various Christmas foods, from candies and bread to tea. From the diverse red and green delicacies at the Christmas market, I can honestly taste it. There is also some gossip: Copenhagen women have a sharp and strong temperament, like iron ladies riding high-wheeled bicycles, leaving men far behind. Therefore, Copenhagen men prefer to marry Thai girls, who are quiet and love reading.
The Thai woman is still taking Danish language proficiency exams and currently has no time to get angry with her useless and irresponsible husband. Carefully observing the tea here, most of it is organic. I can taste many flavors reminiscent of Southeast Asia. For example, I can taste spiced CHAI (Thai people’s ‘tea’). In fact, Scandinavians also love afternoon tea. I have discussed this with my European friends and tea enthusiasts in China: the tea culture in Europe actually originated from China. Chinese people created black tea. But why is the consumption of black tea not in China but in the West? Because they had the Industrial Revolution and needed afternoon tea to refresh and relieve fatigue, and then to boost immunity to prevent epidemics in densely populated cities. Our nobles still regarded tea as a luxury item and it couldn’t be popularized. However, different from Chinese habits, Europeans like mixed organic tea with a mark of poverty. Westerners have a history of drinking tea for several hundred years, mainly in two ways: breakfast tea and afternoon tea. Black tea is not sufficient for digestion after a meal. Instead, it is for people to warm the stomach and refresh themselves in a semi-hungry state, especially at breakfast, and is served with bread and small pastries. At the Christmas market, I bought many small pastries, mostly with the flavors of ginger, licorice, and chocolate, to be used as tea snacks. As we all know, Westerners have dinner after 8 or 9 o’clock. So after the Industrial Revolution, Westerners called lunch ‘brunch’, which is relatively hasty and brief. The interval between dinner is long. Based on such a living environment after the Industrial Revolution, afternoon tea emerged. Regrettably, no lifestyle is created for fashion and romance. Only those born out of survival needs are lasting. Western afternoon tea is for relieving hunger. At that time, tea breaks for the common people served as an energy supplement for workers. So although black tea was invented by the Chinese, it is really in the West and universally applicable due to environmental factors. After solving the problem of drinking, tea must be accompanied by food to truly solve hunger. Cultures around the world are interconnected. Western afternoon tea pairings and Chinese time wisdom can both be borrowed. Chinese jujube paste cake, cheese, and Pu’er tea are a perfect match. European cinnamon rolls and ginger-flavored organic tea are a match made in heaven. Regarding afternoon tea pairings, in fact, Chinese tea is more demanding. ‘Chinese people are very fortunate. There are thousands of experiences to learn from. People in Hangzhou and in the south of the Yangtze River drink green tea and eat rice flour-based foods. People who have learned about tea knowledge all know that Longjing tea has the fragrance of chestnuts and brown rice. Following this train of thought, making some rice flour-based foods will definitely match green tea. So the pastries mentioned earlier, such as orange cake and peach shortbread made in Tangxi, all go well with green tea,’ said Teacher Pang, a tea artist.

This combination is also to control the astringency of tea and retain its freshness. In fact, Chinese tea is expensive due to its delicate and elegant taste, so pairing it with tea snacks can be somewhat complicated. Speaking of Europeans, Chinese people, and Japanese people, the blended tea drunk by Europeans is the most suitable for all kinds of desserts. When making tea, the Japanese are reluctant to sacrifice effective substances and are keen on deep processing of tea leaves, making full use of a tea leaf from beginning to end. Therefore, the overall degree of fixation of Japanese tea is relatively low. Whether it’s sencha or matcha, they are all steamed. The low temperature causes some irritants to not be completely removed. In Japanese tea ceremony such as sencha ceremony and matcha ceremony, when visiting their tea ceremony, they will first give you a sweet tea confection before drinking tea because Japanese tea is very stimulating. So Japanese confections are oily and sweet. In Japan, I prefer the European-style afternoon tea tray. The unique and complex fragrance gets rid of the burden brought by a single sweetness. For those who start drinking tea, they often feel uncomfortable in the stomach. There is another way to balance the ‘power’, which is to add milk. Adding pure milk to Lapsang Souchong, the milk foam contains tea polyphenols and caffeine, making the tea soup mellow, sweet, and silky. This coincides with European afternoon tea. In fact, the European habit of adding milk a hundred years ago came from here. Did you notice that European afternoon tea usually does not have a fruit platter? If you eat post-meal fruits, no matter how sweet Chinese Wanganhou tea is, no matter how sweet the aftertaste is, it is not as sweet as fructose. If you eat grapes or oranges, the fruit acid in them will bring out the astringency of tea. You can eat fruits after drinking tea or eat fruits before, but not at the same time. With these ramblings, I returned to China from Copenhagen after flying 7,500 kilometers and found that there is another Christmas market! There, Paddington Bear from the UK is looking up at me. During afternoon tea time last weekend, I found fans ranging from 8 months to 80 years old to listen to me ramble about a hundred years of British afternoon leisure time. In the Paddington Bear exhibition area of Shanghai Century Link Plaza, the fragrance of coffee and biscuits is everywhere. The British royal gossip begins, runs through the history of high tea and low tea, and then to the interpretation and pairing of three-tier trays. Anyway, everyone is satisfied and full. Thank you to the 120-year-old queen’s pastry brand McVitie’s and Xihui Culture. The next sharing will be on December 8th. Counting on you to make me gain weight! The time of the British travel picnic sharing session: 15:00 – 16:00 on December 8th. Location: Lawn area of Paddington Bear Exhibition at LG2 of Shanghai Century Link Plaza. Theme: The UK is an island country. Although it is not large in area, it has a long historical accumulation and cultural landscapes, and is a very attractive destination.
Visit the iconic Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace in London, take a romantic punt ride along the River Cam in Cambridge, explore the enchanting natural beauty of the Lake District, and uncover the mysteries of Stonehenge. Join seasoned food and travel enthusiasts as they share stories and experiences from their travels in England and across Europe, showcasing the beauty of British culture. In collaboration with the brand: Little Dayz Boutique, established in 2015 by two women passionate about nature and picnics, the brand has grown from an elegant themed event to a picnic basket that exudes a pastoral charm. Little Dayz Boutique aims to be a unique and tasteful lifestyle brand in urban life. Paddington Station serves as the main entrance to the special exhibition, the place where Paddington Bear first met the Brown family, and the origin of his name. The Lost and Found is where Paddington Bear became a member of the Brown family; you can post a photo with Paddington Bear on your social media, remember to tag Shanghai Century Link Plaza. Windsor Gardens is the residence of the Brown family and Paddington Bear; by lying on the ground, you can ‘travel’ to their balcony, take a photo, and post it on Weibo, don’t forget to @Shanghai Century Link Plaza. You can also enjoy a special Paddington Christmas drink at the Mai Long Train Café, assemble any British building in the LEGO pool, and help Paddington Bear fulfill Aunt Lucy’s wishes. Step into the heartwarming lychee phone booth to listen to the touching stories told by the hosts of Lychee (formerly Lychee FM) and participate in the ‘Love Together’ Paddington Bear language recording event. Or buy some flowers at the PETALS PROJECT flower shop to bring warmth and beauty home—during the Paddington Bear special exhibition, PETALS PROJECT flower shop and LEGO will also hold workshops on site, allowing people to participate personally and feel the atmosphere. Don’t forget to visit the cool Market Fair, which will successively launch the Thanksgiving Post Office by Iseo, DeliLif’s good goods fair, and the British boutique shopping festival during the exhibition period. Finally, you can write your New Year’s wishes on a sticky note and post it on the ‘Dreams Wall’ wish wall, let Paddington Bear accompany you, remember together, and make dreams come true. The Queen’s Art Christmas Market: December 24-25, 10:00-22:00, Location: Shanghai Century Link Plaza LG2 Paddington Bear Exhibition Market Area Theme: More than ten brands participate in the Christmas market sales, where you can see British national digestive biscuits, picnic utensils full of pastoral charm, British royal kitchen supplies, royal umbrellas, royal hair combs, royal socks, and perfumes.
Co-brand: United Biscuits. United Biscuits (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of pladis group, is the trademark owner of brands such as McVitie’s and go ahead. United Biscuits Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. is the wholly-owned Chinese subsidiary of United Biscuits and is responsible for all business in China. The go ahead fruit-filled sandwich biscuit brand originates from the UK. Launched in 1996 as a completely healthy alternative to traditional biscuits, it is now one of the leading healthy biscuit brands in the UK. One in five households in the UK purchases go ahead. Every year, 200 million products are sold, which means 400 go ahead biscuits are sold every minute. Crispy, golden baked or with a delicious yogurt coating, it stimulates everyone’s taste buds and continuously explores new flavors! Co-brand: LittleDayz Boutique. In this fast and convenient world, we have learned to use disposable plastic bowls and open today’s simple meal in front of the computer. We spend most of our lives sitting on an office chair. These may be necessities of life, but in addition to the necessities, Little Dayz wants to add countless shining little days to the unchanging life and create unique life experiences for everyone with design and art. Little Dayz consists of three product line series: Travel Luna, which focuses on travel design, Woody Mood, which conveys natural wild charm, and Dayz, which shares daily exquisite items. Co-brand: Ulster Weavers. After 300 years of cultivation, it is the designated brand for the British royal kitchen. As the most visible and respected royal family in the world, if the title of “British Royal Warrant” is branded on a certain brand, it is equivalent to a quality and taste guarantee that is valid worldwide. Ulster Weavers holds this honor. ULSTER WEAVERS’ kitchen and dining utensils include teapots, cups, plates, trays, etc. In terms of materials, bone china with a bone powder content of more than 45% or melamine resin is selected. Bone china has a fine and lightweight texture, a warm and soft luster, and great texture. The patterns use first-class glaze and advanced glazing technology. The high-temperature glaze does not fade and remains as good as new.
In textiles, ULSTER WEAVERS is extremely creative with printing. Country style, industrial style, minimalist style, cartoon animal style, and retro style take turns. Even old invoices can be transferred onto tea towels to become unique prints. Co-branded product: Fulton, the royal umbrella brand. The first choice for noble outings. With the inventor’s unique talent and sensitivity to the needs of different eras, the Fulton family has created this 62-year-old European brand. The FULTON brand was born in the UK in 1955. Arnold Fulton, an inventor and mechanical engineer, founded the Fulton company in London, the fashion capital. During many years of umbrella making, the Fulton family has tirelessly pursued innovation and created the most authentic umbrella brand that best represents the style and aesthetic of British gentlemen and royal nobles. It occupies 35% of the British umbrella market and has become the largest umbrella supplier in the UK. FULTON is also the only umbrella brand designated by the Queen of the UK for business and royal use. It has created the famous birdcage umbrella for Queen Elizabeth II and her mother, which has been passed down to this day. The FULTON umbrella fully meets people’s needs for outdoor outings and is a symbol of fashion and tasteful living. Co-branded product: Kent. Kent Brushes was founded by William Kent in 1777 when George III was in power. The history of KENT BRUSHES is the history of British combs. Spanning four centuries, Kent has captured the discerning taste of the royal family with its exquisite craftsmanship. In 1780, King George III awarded Kent the ‘ROYAL WARRANT’. Kent has provided hair combs for nine generations of the British royal family, writing an unparalleled glorious record of royal certification. It is the only brand in the UK to have continuously received nine ‘ROYAL WARRANT’. For 239 years, despite experiencing the frenzy of the industrial revolution and the turmoil of war, the quality of KENT remains unchanged. The biggest feature of Kent is the use of natural wild boar bristles as comb teeth. Boar bristles have always been considered the best comb material. Its hair comb products were first used by British royal nobles. The Indian wild boar bristles selected by KENT are recognized worldwide as fine and stiff natural materials. They have many advantages such as being not easily broken, stimulating the skin, preventing hair loss, massaging the scalp, reducing hair wear, and promoting hair regeneration. Boar bristles can penetrate deep into the scalp layer and bring oil from the hair roots to the ends, playing a role in cleaning and nourishing the hair.
Joint Brand: Corgi Royal Socks, a Legacy of Creativity and Classic Designs. The story of Corgi began in 1892, and over the past 125 years, London’s sock industry has undergone a refreshing transformation from overall to the smallest details. Corgi is a family business that combines traditional production methods with design trends, focusing on producing high-quality, high-specification cashmere socks, cotton socks, and knits. Their products are stylish yet elegant, known worldwide for comfort and health, and the brand image of ‘Quality First’ has become increasingly ingrained in people’s hearts during a century of development, becoming a favorite among fashion enthusiasts. Corgi’s socks are extremely comfortable and luxurious, with each pair carrying the craftsmanship and techniques passed down from generation to generation on ancient manual knitting machines. Perhaps due to the long cold winters in Wales, color has been infused with a warm gene into Corgi. Corgi introduces a variety of warm-colored socks each season, with very beautiful patterns and designs, especially the bright-colored long socks with separated color blocks for the heel, toe, and sole, which are widely popular in the UK. Joint Brand: Crossing Days. CROSSING DAYS was founded on the beautiful banks of the Thames in London, UK, with its meaning derived from the memorable moments of a good life, combining home art with the concept of a comfortable and beautiful life. The design style is not confined to the status quo but endows each product with more emotional expression and comfortable feelings, becoming a favorite in the UK’s fashionable home brand circle. [DAYS ARE GOOD, WHEN THEY SMELL GOOD] is the brand philosophy, which is to give back the good feelings of life into life itself. During the first anniversary celebration month of Century Link Plaza, there are many surprises and benefits prepared for everyone: 50% off for big meals, 69 yuan for 100 yuan group purchase, consumption to win Huawei Mate30 mobile phones, and up to 500 yuan cash back for full consumption. Registered members of Century Link, ‘Century Coffee’, also have exclusive benefits: 8 times points, free parking, and super value lucky bags. The large discount and the number of participating merchants are truly anticipated. ‘Love Together’ – The Classic British Healing Tale Paddington Bear Shanghai Special Exhibition. Exhibition dates: November 20, 2019 – January 1, 2020. Paddington Bear Shanghai Special Exhibition: November 20 – December 1. Yisuo – Thanksgiving Post Office: December 13 – January 1. British Boutique Shopping Festival: December 24 – 25. Shenpo Loves to Eat – Queen’s Art Christmas Market. Exhibition location: LG2 Atrium, Century Link Plaza, Shanghai (1192 Century Avenue, Pudong New District, Shanghai, directly accessible by subway lines 2/4/6/9 Century Avenue Station). 7500 kilometers is not far, no matter where you are, the meaning of the holiday is to let those who love be together.
Goddess asks you what Christmas gift you like? ‘Only the human soul is the truest.’ – Victor Hugo. Food Bless You! Consultant of China International Food Expo. Producer of ‘God-like Dining Table’.

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