夜訪青草街 / Night Visit to Herbal Street

朋友們，知道為甚麼這條街叫青草街呢？不是因為這條街沿街生長著大量綠色植物，而街道彷彿被綠色覆蓋而命名，不是因為這個地方在數百年前，有位隱士醫生曾經在這條街免費施藥救人，而他用的草藥來自深山的草藥，街坊為了感謝他，稱這條街為青草街，而是因為這條街以販售中藥材和草藥聞名，尤其以青草藥材為特色，隨著名氣遠播，陸續增加至十多間青草店，形成青草業者聚落，並吸引人們來體驗傳統草藥文化。

當我小時候，每當生病時，父母並不先帶我去西醫求診，反而帶我先給住家附近的中醫師診斷，每到了中醫藥館，經由中醫診斷後，就直接在藥館抓幾天份的中藥，回家後燉給我喝，我已經不記得是否有用，但是我還記得，每次去看中醫生時，他都會先給我一或兩顆仙楂糖，吃下去，口感酸甜，並帶有獨特的果香，也讓我不那麼怕看醫生，直到現在，我還是很喜歡吃仙楂糖，也是一種童年回憶。

話說，我本來想吃完晚餐後，找個有意思的地方逛逛，從 Google 地圖上看到青草街這地名，直覺認為，應該可以去走走，於是，話不多說，就出發，然而，巷弄間旁根錯節、縱橫交錯，而且青草街只是俗稱，真實的地點是成功路90巷，附近巷弄藏著很多東南亞風情的各式店家，各式各樣的東南亞文字招牌，讓我知道，這裡的主客群是東南亞移民，有小吃店、理容院、咖啡店、按摩店等，其實，深晚時在這裡穿梭，給人一種不安全感，還好有 Google 地圖，我還是找到了目的地。

大概是晚上九點多，很多店家已經休息了，但還是有幾家青草店有營業，不愧叫做青草街，走進來就看到很多植物及草藥，店家除了販賣中藥材之外，還販售青草茶、冬瓜茶、洛神花茶、養肝茶、靈芝茶等茶飲，中醫講究藥食同源的食療文化，有事沒事來一杯清涼茶飲，解渴並強身，我觀察一下，青草街上的店家，很多都是老店，看起來，應該大多做熟客生意，我當然帶了一瓶青草茶回去，好好補身，就此結束我的探險之旅。

Friends, do you know why this street is called “Herbal Street”? It’s not because it’s lined with lush green plants that make it look like it’s covered in greenery. And it’s not because, hundreds of years ago, a hermit doctor provided free herbal remedies here using mountain herbs, leading the locals to name it “Herbal Street” in gratitude. Rather, the street is famous for selling traditional Chinese herbs, especially fresh herbal plants. Over time, as its reputation spread, more herbal shops opened—now there are over ten of them, forming a cluster that attracts people to experience traditional herbal medicine.

When I was little, whenever I got sick, my parents wouldn’t take me to a Western doctor first. Instead, they’d take me to the nearby traditional Chinese medicine clinic. After a diagnosis, they’d grab a few days’ worth of herbal medicine from the clinic’s pharmacy, which we’d take home and brew. I don’t really remember if it was effective, but I do remember that every time I went, the doctor would give me one or two hawthorn candies. The candy was sweet and tangy, with a unique fruitiness that made going to the doctor less scary. Even now, I still love hawthorn candy; it’s one of my childhood memories.

So, after dinner, I thought it’d be fun to explore somewhere interesting. I spotted “Herbal Street” on Google Maps and thought it might be worth a stroll. Without further ado, I set out. However, the alleys were a bit of a maze, crisscrossing and intertwining. “Herbal Street” is actually just a nickname; the real location is in Lane 90, Chenggong Road. The surrounding alleys have a Southeast Asian vibe with various shops, featuring signs in different Southeast Asian languages, making it clear the main customers here are immigrants from Southeast Asia. There are snack shops, barbers, cafes, massage parlors, and more. Wandering around this area at night does feel a bit unsafe, but luckily, with Google Maps, I found my way to my destination.

It was around nine at night, and many stores were already closed, but a few herbal shops were still open. True to the name, Herbal Street is lined with plants and herbs. In addition to traditional Chinese medicine, the shops sell herbal teas like winter melon tea, hibiscus tea, liver detox tea, and lingzhi tea. Chinese medicine places importance on food as medicine, so a cooling herbal drink is not only refreshing but can also strengthen your health. I noticed that many of the stores here are long-established shops, mostly serving loyal customers. Of course, I took home a bottle of herbal tea to boost my health and ended my little adventure there.

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