By Chico Mies The confrontation between Leonidas and Xerxes in 300 and the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State share striking thematic similarities, particularly in the struggle between power and resistance. Leonidas’ quote: “The world will know that a free man stood against a tyrant. That few stood against many. And before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed.” resonates deeply with the current standoff in Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara finds himself at odds with the federal authority following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency. The Tyrant vs. The Free Man In 300, Xerxes presents himself as an all-powerful ruler, demanding submission from Leonidas and the Spartans. Similarly, Tinubu’s imposition of emergency rule can be interpreted as an assertion of supreme federal power over Rivers State, challenging its autonomy. Fubara, like Leonidas, stands as a figure of defiance, resisting what he and his supporters perceive ...
By Chico Mies
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In Shanghai, ice creams with traditional Chinese medicine are available for purchase. Image: VCG |
A brand-new ice cream business in Shanghai has gained attention lately for its unusual selection of ice cream flavours that include traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The new summer goodies are taking over customers with a total of 16 flavours: smoked plum, bamboo and jasmine, hawthorn and bergamot, loquat syrup, wild chrysanthemum and pistachio, and mint and watermelon frost.
Priced at 38 yuan ($5.3) for 120 grammes and 45 yuan for 150 grammes, consumers can also request toppings created with premium ingredients, such as caterpillar fungus (called in China as "winter-worm summer-grass," which is supposed to have immune-boosting properties) for 18 yuan and ginseng (12 yuan). The store also offers herbal teas, which run about 20 yuan on average.
The staff claims that ice cream serves as the main ingredient in these items, with a minor quantity of herbal substances added to improve the flavour. Essentially, the theory revolves around "new Chinese-style herbs" and the old TCM tenet that "food and medicine share the same origin."
Online, TCM ice cream has become popular. On Sina Weibo, a Chinese social media site similar to X, the hashtag for it has received over 50 million views and 10,000 comments.
Some Weibo users expressed curiosity about these ice creams, while others questioned if they align with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine due to concerns about consuming cold foods. A Weibo comment said, "My last bit of guilt from eating ice cream has now disappeared."
The popularity of TCM-infused ice cream is a reflection of a wider trend in which contemporary food products are infused with traditional Chinese medicine. This fusion of TCM with modern food is becoming more and more popular among young consumers in China, as younger generations place a greater emphasis on wellness and health and feel more confident in their cultural identity. Herbal teas, bread, coffee, and now ice cream are just a few of the culinary creations that TCM is influencing.
Diversification of products
TCM is finding its way into a variety of cuisines, not just ice cream. A hospital in the Chongqing Municipality of Southwest China began making milk tea, cakes, and lollipops with medicinal herb infusions. A TCM health café in Guangdong Province, South China, serves a selection of herbal coffees. Even a bakery serving medicinal breads like Ejiao soft bread and lotus leaf hydration toast has been opened by a hospital in Tianjin, North China.
There are more than 30 TCM tea or herbal tea brands in the nation as of July 7, according to data compiled by the news outlet The Beijing News.
The TCM industry has been the focus of much attention from the Chinese government in recent years, which has introduced several laws and initiatives to encourage innovation and expansion in the sector. According to Yi Lan, a visiting TCM doctor at a Guangzhou hospital, these efforts have laid a strong foundation for the rise of TCM-infused food items, as reported by the Global Times.
Furthermore, she noted that social media has been crucial in advancing this trend by expanding its appeal and reach, especially among younger generations who are eager to try out novel and exciting experiences.
For example, since the summer of 2023, suanmeitang, or sour plum drink, has become more and more well-liked as a tasty and refreshing beverage. Traditionally prepared with extra ingredients like rock candy, liquorice, and hawthorn, this traditional beverage is well-known for its delicious flavour as well as its ability to relieve heat fatigue, reduce grease, and increase hunger.
A lot of people have shared films on social media sites, such as the Chinese TikTok, detailing their experiences purchasing suanmeitang from TCM stores. A search for "TCM prescription of suanmeitang" on the lifestyle-sharing portal Xiaohongshu turns up over 3,000 results.
A video posted on Douyin by a user reveals that suanmeitang only costs 4.5 yuan a packet. Dried plums, rock candy, mulberries, osmanthus flowers, dried tangerine peel, and hawthorn are among the components. The film claims that retailers can even brew it for customers right away.
Some people add ice to TCM, even though it's often taken heated. They claim that the resulting drink is extremely refreshing and "much more affordable than milk tea and healthier as well."
Unfortunately, as children's stomach linings are quite delicate, this beverage is not recommended for them to ingest due to the high concentration of organic acids like malic and citric acid in suanmeitang.
Adults should also refrain from consuming large amounts of it or doing so on an empty stomach. Furthermore, because the sour plum drink contains a lot of sugar, people with diabetes shouldn't consume it.
She also mentioned that drinking suanmeitang could make circumstances worse for those who are menstruating, have a cold or fever, a cough with phlegm, or feel like they have chest congestion.
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On July 29, 2024, at 2:00 pm, Chinese herbal flavoured ice cream at an ice cream shop in Shanghai's Xuhui neighbourhood sells out. Image: VCG |
Comfort and wellness come together
TCM-infused foods are becoming more and more popular, which is in line with Gen Z and millennials' increased interest in wellness and their desire to make healthier food choices.
The Xinhua News Agency's 2021 Generation Z nutritional consumption trend research states that people between the ages of 18 and 35, who account for 83.7 per cent of the market, are driving the majority of expenditure related to health concerns.
The study also showed that Gen Z is especially fond of portable, easy-to-eat, and simple-to-make goods as opposed to traditional tonics.
Demand for such useful and nourishing items suggests a shift away from conventional approaches and towards health advantages that are simple to incorporate into day-to-day living.
“The trend reflects a growing awareness among the public, alongside a strong sense of cultural confidence," Yi stated.
Furthermore, to maintain its upward trajectory, the TCM food business needs to identify a development route that accurately captures the distinctive qualities of TCM.
“A crucial first step is to enhance public knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, which will enable consumers to make informed choices and fully harness the benefits of TCM," Yi stated to the Global Times.
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