20 Drinks You Must Try In China : Ultimate Bucket List (2026)
Introduction
This list has been curated by me, a person who has worked part-time for 8 years in Chinese restaurants and takeouts in a European country. Yes, Iβm from a restaurant family. π¨π»βπ³
I am now in China permanently and frequently explore new drinks, with an aim to recommend them to family and friends.
Tea originated in China. It is one of the delights of our world. Even if you donβt like one specific type of tea, please donβt hesitate to try other types. Iβm sure thereβs something for everyone, and it has great health benefits too.
These items can generally be found in major cities across China. There are some local specialties that are much harder to find outside of their region, so this list does not cover them.
If you plan to travel across China for an extended time, you may possibly see hundreds of new drinks. Try being adventurous haha!
This list does not cover alcoholic beverages.
Wishing you an amazing journey throughout China! Do your best to βcollectβ all of these drinks during your trip!
Interested in visiting China?
Traditional Teas
1. Jasmine tea | mΓ² lΓ¬ huΔ chΓ‘ | θθθ±θΆ β
2. Longjing tea | lΓ³ng jΗng chΓ‘ | ιΎδΊθΆ
3. Chrysanthemum tea | jΓΊ huΔ chΓ‘ | θθ±θΆ
4. Tieguanyin tea | tiΔ guΔn yΔ«n | ιθ§ι³
Modern Teas
5. bubble tea | zhΔn zhΕ« nΗi chΓ‘ | ηη ε₯ΆθΆ β
6. HK style milk tea | gΗng shΓ¬ nΗi chΓ‘ | ζΈ―εΌε₯ΆθΆ
7. herbal tea / Wanglaoji | liΓ‘ng chΓ‘ / wΓ‘ng lΗo jΓ | εθΆ / ηθε β
8. lemon tea | nΓng mΓ©ng chΓ‘ | ζ ζͺ¬θΆ
9. ginger tea | jiΔng chΓ‘ | ε§θΆ
10. honey grapefruit tea | fΔng mΓ¬ yΓ²u zi chΓ‘ | θθζεθΆ
Milk Beverages
11. soybean milk | dΓ²ujiΔng | θ±ζ΅ β
12. whole coconut milk | yΔ zΗ nΗi | ζ€°εε₯Ά
13. coconut latte | shΔng yΔ kΔ fΔi | ηζ€°εε‘
Sweets and Fruits
14. red bean ice | hΓ³ng dΓ²u bΔ«ng | ηΊ’θ±ε° β
15. sugar cane juice | gΔn zhΓ¨ zhΔ« | ηθζ±
16. mango sago | yΓ‘ng zhΔ« gΔn lΓΉ | ζ¨ζηι² β
17. sour plum soup | suΔn mΓ©i tΔng | ι Έζ’ ζ±€
18. lychee juice | lΓ¬ zhΔ« zhΔ« | θζζ±
19. hawthorn juice | shΔn zhΔ zhΔ« | ε±±ζ₯ζ±
20. pear juice | lΓ zhΔ« | ζ’¨ζ±
