Lanzhou Transforms Local Ingredients into Trendy Beverages
The city of Lanzhou in Gansu Province is gaining popularity by incorporating traditional northwestern Chinese ingredients into modern beverage chains.
Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, is revitalizing its local food scene by integrating traditional northwestern Chinese ingredients into popular modern beverages. According to Khaosod Online, local brands are successfully utilizing unique regional products such as fermented wheat (tianpeizi), pickled vegetables (jiangshui), soft pears (ruanerli), and Kushui roses to create innovative milk teas and health drinks that appeal to younger consumers.
A notable success story is the brand 'Fangha,' which began as a small coffee shop in 2010. Founder Geng Shengchen introduced a signature milk tea featuring tianpeizi in 2011, which became a massive hit. The brand has since expanded to over 160 locations across multiple provinces, reportedly selling 13.41 million cups annually. Additionally, the Lanzhou Foci Pharmaceutical Company has launched 'Cichaguan,' a tea shop chain that blends traditional medicinal herbs like astragalus, angelica, codonopsis, and goji berries into health-conscious drinks, currently operating 16 outlets.
For travelers and residents, this trend offers a unique opportunity to experience authentic regional flavors presented in a contemporary, accessible format. While these brands have seen significant growth, it remains to be seen how these localized beverage concepts will perform if they expand into more competitive international markets or if further regional ingredients will be adapted for global palates.
