Ice, Chinese consumers' newest crush

Zhang said this debate reflects two different health philosophies. The Eastern perspective tends to focus on nurturing and prevention, viewing the body as a delicate system that requires careful maintenance.

The Western perspective, however, leans toward training and adaptation, treating the body as a resilient system capable of handling challenges. "Moderate cold exposure, such as drinking cold water or taking cold baths, is believed to stimulate the circulatory system, boost metabolism, and enhance immunity, akin to a form of exercise for the body," Zhang wrote.

There was also a public health imperative for the promotion of drinking boiled water, according to a 2024 article published by the International Journal of Social Sciences and Public Administration.

Following a cholera outbreak in China in 1932, chaotic water usage was identified by a prominent medical figure as the primary cause for its spread. Due to the absence of a running water system, residents upstream often disposed of their household waste into rivers, exposing those downstream to infection risks.

Following medical recommendations, Shanghai established numerous affordable boiled water shops which resulted in reducing the patient mortality rate from 30 percent to 7.4 percent. This initiative instilled a nationwide habit of consuming boiled water, the article said.

In order to address the issue of widespread parasite infestation during that period, an initiative to promote boiled water was once again prioritized. Previous efforts were limited to major cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Boiling water facilities were made mandatory in all factories, military camps, and farms, the article said. Restrictions were imposed on daily drinking water and most domestic sources, thereby necessitating reliance on these designated boiling water rooms. A portable thermos flask emerged as an iconic symbol of that era, with people gradually adapting to queuing up at specific times for a serving of hot boiled water.

Today, people such as Gu, the school teacher, take a balanced approach to hot versus cold drinks.

"In winter, I drink a lot of tea and usually brew it with hot water. But when the weather gets hot, I find hot tea harder to drink. I either have bottled water or coffee and milk tea with ice," said Gu.