Chili-infused coffee: the unlikely combination taking China's social media by storm

By Anh Minh, Phuc Trinh February 24, 2024 | 12:00 am PT

In China, there's a quirky new drink stirring up attention: spicy latte, a blend of coffee and chili.

The spicy latte, priced at 20 yuan (US$2.80) per cup, blending the coolness of iced latte with the heat of dried chili and chili powder, was introduced by a coffee shop named Jingshi in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province in December 2023, as reported by South China Morning Post.

Since its launch, the drink has become popular, selling out quickly. The shop currently sells over 300 cups daily, yet demand continues to exceed supply. Because of its success, the spicy latte is set to become a permanent menu item.

A video posted by Chinese video platform Pear Video on Weibo demonstrates how this new drink is prepared. In this clip, an employee adds sliced peppers and hot pepper powder into a cup of iced latte before serving it.

An employee told Pear Video, "I don’t think it's very spicy. On the contrary, it tastes fine," adding that this coffee isn't as weird as people might think.

Similarly, a user on the consumer products review app, Dianping, commented, "The new spicy latte tastes good, with a bit of spice and a touch of sweetness."

A stand for the spicy latte placed at Jingshi coffee shop in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province. Photo courtesy of Douyin

While there is excitement surrounding the new drink, many Douyin users confess to feeling hesitant about trying it, citing concerns about potential stomach issues.

"I'm stunned. It's really unusual," one person commented on Douyin.

"I guess there could be some digestive issues after having something spicy," another wrote.

"It's creative, but I'm too scared to try it because I'm worried it might upset my stomach," said another.

China has previously drawn attention from both international and domestic diners with bizarre dishes like cold grilled ice and spicy stir-fried pebbles.