China youth flock to TCM bars for ‘prescription cocktails’ amid rise of ‘punk wellness’ lifestyle
Younger generation embrace notion of ‘wrecking yourself while saving yourself’ by drinking concoctions of booze and herbs
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.
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.