Chili coffee 'takes China by storm'

After cold grilled stone and spicy stir-fried pebbles, it's the turn of chili coffee, a new drink from a shop in Jiangxi province, to become a hit in China.

Chili coffee or spicy latte is the next strange drink that is "making waves" in China, which was launched by Jingshi Cafe in Jiangxi Province in December 2023. The new drink combines the traditional iced latte with dried chili and chili powder to honor the famous local spicy cuisine.

As soon as it was launched, the new product attracted a lot of love from customers and quickly sold out. Currently, the restaurant sells more than 300 cups a day but still cannot meet the demand of customers. The new drink is so popular that the restaurant plans to add it to the main menu and serve it long term. Each cup costs 20 yuan (68,000 VND).

Chili mixed coffee sells out in China — Spicy coffee in China. Video: *YouTube/Oddity Central*

In videos posted on Douyin (China's version of TikTok) introducing the new drink, customers can clearly see how it is made. The shop pours coffee into a plastic cup and then adds dried chili and chili powder. Most people who have tried chili coffee confirm that the drink is spicier than a regular latte but "definitely not unpleasant."

"I don't think it's too spicy, on the contrary, it tastes very good," said the shop staff, adding that chili coffee is not as strange as people think.

"This new chili latte is not bad. It's a little spicy and a little sweet," one customer left a comment online, expressing his satisfaction with the experience.

A sign advertising spicy coffee placed at the shop. Photo: Douyin — A sign advertising spicy coffee placed at the shop. Photo: *Douyin*

While diners are excited, locals are hesitant. Many said they "don't dare try this unusual drink." "It's a creative new drink, but I haven't dared to try it because I'm afraid it will make me feel uncomfortable," said one local. Others said the new drink could give them stomachaches.

Previously, China also attracted a large number of international and domestic diners thanks to its creation of strange dishes such as cold grilled stones and spicy stir-fried pebbles.

Anh Minh (According to SCMP, Odd )

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