Food

In 2004, Nongfu Spring, a Chinese beverage company, launched a new drink called "红色尖叫" or Red Scream, as part of its Scream series of functional drinks. The red ginseng-flavored drink was initially marketed towards white-collar workers and individuals with physically or mentally demanding jobs. However, its unique flavor quickly earned it a notorious reputation, with many consumers expressing strong dislike for its taste. Red Scream became infamous, earning nicknames such as "one of China's five most poisonous waters" and "one of the most unpalatable drinks ever."

Food

Steamed Egg Slip-Up: China's Culinary Heritage Hijacked on Social Media

In a bizarre incident that has left many in China feeling frustrated and disrespected, a traditional Chinese dish known as "水蒸蛋" or steamed egg, has been widely mislabeled as "Japanese Steamed Egg" on international social media platforms. The controversy began to gain traction in early 2024, after a German TikTok creator named Aliain posted a video showcasing the dish, which quickly went viral and garnered tens of millions of views. However, Aliain's decision to refer to the dish as "Japanese Steamed Egg" sparked outrage among Chinese netizens, who saw it as a blatant case of cultural appropriation.

In a recent episode of the culinary competition show "Yi Fan Feng Shen," celebrity judge Nicholas Tse sparked a heated debate by disqualifying a contestant for using a pre-made hotpot base in her dish. The contestant, known as "Sauce Princess," had used the base to prepare an oil-blanched shrimp dish, which Tse considered cheating. This incident has brought the issue of using pre-made ingredients in professional cooking competitions to the forefront of public discussion.