China youth flock to TCM bars for ‘prescription cocktails’ amid rise of ‘punk wellness’ lifestyle

Young Chinese consumers are flocking to Traditional Chinese Medicine bars where they can enjoy so-called prescription cocktails reflecting the rise of a “punk wellness” lifestyle.

Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote By night, some young Chinese are swapping traditional cocktails for so-called traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) bars, where herbal-infused spirits promise everything from heartbreak cures to wellness boosts.

In these dimly lit venues, R&B or rock music pulses through the speakers while behind the bar, drawers brim with herbs rather than bottles.

Bartenders in white coats, often certified TCM practitioners, begin each visit by taking pulses and asking about lifestyle habits before crafting personalised herbal cocktails.

A tastefully decorated Traditional Chinese Medicine bar, above.

Photo: mp.weixin.qq.com The fusion of TCM and nightlife has surged across China’s first-tier cities since late last year, with the concept now spreading swiftly to other urban centres.

In Nanjing in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, Joychic Bar serves a gin-based concoction called “Meng Po Soup,” which claims to help patrons forget past relationships.

Named after the underworld deity who manages souls’ memories, typically depicted as an elderly woman, the drink blends bitter herbs such as wormwood, violet, and wild ginger flowers, priced at 98 yuan a glass.

In Guangzhou, southern China, the Room of Requirement Bar offers a more personalised TCM experience.

Bartender Kiki assesses customers’ pulses and tongue coating, then crafts cocktails based on individual prescriptions.

A young customer peruses two menus at a Traditional Chinese Medicine bar as they hold on to two specially mixed drinks.

Photo: mp.weixin.qq.com One customer recounted receiving a cocktail of rose, longan, and motherwort after Kiki noted her body tended to feel cold.

These ingredients are said to tonify blood and qi, a vital life force that flows through the body.

The staff also explain the TCM principles behind each drink and showcase the raw herbs used.

A crowd favourite, “Night Hercules Soup,” combines bourbon with mountain lotus root, goji, and eucommia.

These herbs are believed to support liver health and boost energy for night owls.

The recipe is said to draw inspiration from a Song dynasty (960-1279) TCM prescription encyclopaedia.

In another TCM tavern in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, eastern China, a practitioner spends around five minutes with each customer, taking their pulse a

原文链接: 南华早报