10 Most Popular Drinks in China

China is home to a great range of traditional drinks and upcoming favourites. Whether you love relaxing with a cup of tea or want to enjoy drinks with friends, there are plenty of Chinese beverages to fit the bill.

Delve into some of the most popular Chinese drinks:

• Tieguanyin
• Jiuniang
• Pearl Milk Tea
• Xinjiang Black Beer
• Chrysanthemum Tea
• Suanmeitang
• Soybean Milk
• Yunnan Coffee
• Coconut Milk
• Tsingtao Beer

1. Tieguanyin

Also known as 'Iron Goddess of Mercy', tieguanyin falls between black and green tea on the taste spectrum but is faintly yellow in colour. The brew smells fresh and floral, with hints of berries and fruit. Found in local tea houses throughout China, Tieguanyin is a premium variety of the ever-popular oolong tea, which presents a sweet honey aftertaste with each sip.

2. Jiuniang

Jiuniang is a fermented sweet rice wine which has a soup-like consistency. It is essentially just unfiltered rice wine, yet it has a very low amount of alcohol. It is often flavoured with osmanthus flowers, which adds a slightly sweet honey flavour and mild fruity notes. 

3. Pearl Milk Tea

Originating from Taiwan, this soft drink proves very popular amongst the younger Chinese population. The drink sees jelly-like bubbles added to sweet milk tea. The 'pearls' or bubbles are made from tapioca and are very soft. Bubble teas, such as the pearl milk tea, are now popular throughout Europe and America too!

If you’re a fan of the addition of chewy tapioca bubbles in your drink, another tasty option to try comes in the form of Mogu Mogu drinks! These fruit-flavoured juices include nata de coco pieces for a refreshing yet unique drinking experience.

4. Xinjiang Black Beer

Otherwise known as Sinkiang black beer, this flavourful drink comes from northwest China. Like American dark lager, it has hints of brown sugar sweetness. The black beer is often enjoyed alongside spicy dishes.

5. Chrysanthemum Tea

Coming from a flower, chrysanthemum tea is naturally flowery in both taste and scent, and provides a herbal remedy for many ailments. Reported benefits include lowering cholesterol, helping digestion, detoxifying the liver and cooling high temperatures.

Tea is used in Chinese medicine, with each type of Chinese herbal tea offering a variety of benefits and healing properties.  

6. Suanmeitang

A plum flavoured carbonated drink, that is predominantly enjoyed in the summer months. The fizzy drink has a sweet and sour taste that matches well with spicier Chinese meals. It is made from sour plums, rock salt, liquorice root, hawthorn and sweet osmanthus, and has a soothing effect.

7. Soybean Milk

Soybeans are one of the most popular ingredients in East Asian cuisine, and they also prove popular in drink form. Soybean milk is used as a protein shake in China, with the yellow beans offering a natural and sweet sip.

Lactose intolerance is extremely common in China, with an estimated 92% of adults having trouble absorbing lactose, which is why cow milk alternatives, such as soy milk, are so popular in China. 

8. Yunnan Coffee

As coffee rapidly grows in popularity in China, the beans produced in Yunnan, a province in southwestern China, have appeared as a frontrunner in the specialty coffee culture.

Over 98% of all coffee in China comes from this area, and even supplies some of the coffee to Starbucks stores across mainland China! One of the most popular brands of coffee from Yunnan is AiNi, which produces a range of cinnamon-flavoured beans that produce a wonderfully flavourful light roast.

9. Coconut Milk

Coconut milk for drinking can be found in cans or cartons throughout China. It is made from the grated meat of the fruit, with water and sugar added to alter the taste and consistency. It is much thicker and sweeter than coconut water. Coconut milk is most popular in southern China, although it is enjoyed throughout the whole country.

10. Tsingtao Beer

Sold in 62 countries around the world, Tsingtao beer is undoubtedly the most famous Chinese beer. It is a German-style lager made using the pure spring water from Laoshan, a mountain area in the Shandong province. The hops, yeast and barley are imported into China from Australia and Canada, to give the beer a strong malt flavour.

For even more authentic beverages, see our selection of Asian soft drinks. Or why not try a unique Chinese alcohol like baijui?