Rising demand for sour plum soup creates frenzy among youth

An unexpected surge in the demand for Chinese herbal beverages, particularly sour plum soup, has ignited a craze among young people, resulting in stores running out of stock and even overwhelming hospital servers.

Sour plum soup, also known as sour plum tea, has become a sensation among the younger generation. Bloggers and influencers have been sharing their experiences of purchasing this beverage, with some buying five servings for as little as 10 yuan ($1.4) from traditional medicine shops. Others have obtained it through hospital consultations or online platforms.

In comparison to other trendy beverages like milk tea and coffee, netizens have been praising the health benefits associated with herbal drinks such as sour plum soup.

Traditional medicine stores across the country have responded to the soaring demand for sour plum soup in various ways:

The Jiahuitang Chinese Medicine Clinic in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, has been customizing the herbal beverage for customers based on their physical condition and even offered reimbursement through medical insurance.

Beijing Tong Ren Tang medicine group has provided pre-packaged ingredients that customers can take home to prepare themselves, with some of these ingredients eligible for medical insurance coverage.

The Fanghuichuntang medicine store in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has offered both pre-made and packaged versions of sour plum soup.

The sour plum soup produced by Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has gained particular popularity, leading to a supply shortage. Recent online orders for the beverage even overwhelmed the hospital's servers.

"Around 200,000 servings of online tea drinks were sold in just three days, which is more than 10 times the usual amount," revealed a hospital staff member to ThePaper.cn on Wednesday. Various Chinese herbal drinks, including sour plum soup, remained out of stock on the hospital's internet platform as of Thursday.

While doctors and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) professionals have underscored the health benefits of herbal beverages like sour plum soup, they have also cautioned against excessive consumption due to their potent medicinal properties. Long-term consumption may not be suitable for everyone, and individuals are advised to consider their personal health conditions before opting for these drinks.

Doctor Bi Liming, from the Wuxi TCM Hospital in Jiangsu province, highlighted that the growing popularity of Chinese herbal beverages reflects a rising interest in traditional medicine in daily life. However, maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and sufficient sleep, remains crucial for overall well-being. Herbal beverages should complement, rather than replace, these fundamental aspects of health.