Chilly infused coffee takes China by storm
A coffee shop in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, China, has sparked curiosity by introducing a unique creation to its menu, the Jiangxi Spicy Latte, a fiery drink with fried chili and pepper powder. Let us unravel how this unconventional beverage, launched by Jingshi Coffee in December of last year, has become a sensation, with the shop reportedly selling up to 300 cups daily.
For the love of spicy flavors
The Jiangxi Spicy Latte gained immense popularity through a viral Douyin video, showcasing the outlet's employees skillfully adding fried chili slices and hot pepper powder to the traditional iced latte. Priced at 20 yuan (Rs. 230 approx.) per cup, the success of this unique beverage can be attributed to the region's love for spicy flavors along with Sichuan and Hunan Provinces of China.
How does it taste
South China Morning Post quoted a shop worker, "It's not as spicy as you might think; it's not that strange." On social media, Chinese users shared images of their experiences with "chili coffee," with comments ranging from "It's not bad; it has a slightly spicy and sweet taste" to contrasting reactions like "I'm hesitant to try it, fearing it might upset my stomach."
Moutai coffee
In China, a trend of experimenting with innovative coffee flavors has emerged. In September 2023, long queues formed as customers eagerly waited for a new coffee drink infused with the Chinese liquor Moutai, also known as Jiangxiang Latte. In just three hours, a Luckin outlet in Hangzhou, eastern China, sold over over 200 cups of Jiangxiang Latte, as reported by the store employee.
Egg, vinegar latte
Last year, a cafe in Zhejiang province mixed crushed preserved egg with latte, and soon, many other shops started doing the same. In 2021, a coffee place in Shanxi province added vinegar to their Americanos, inspired by the region's love for vinegar in their food. News about these exciting new coffee flavor sizzled across mainland social media.
