From squat toilets to the hectic lifestyle and unique cuisine, it’s normal to have culture shock when you visit China. However, there’s one unique behavior about Chinese people that don’t get much recognition: their love for hot water. You’ll always be served hot water in restaurants, offices, and trains unless you specifically order cold or room-temperature water. Interestingly, all demographics, from young to old, prefer hot water. So, why do the Chinese prefer drinking hot water? Let’s find out!
The Origin of the Tradition
The preference for hot water in China dates back to the early 20th century; it was a government-sponsored initiative. When the Nationalist Government got into power in 1928, it introduced the New Life Movement, whose sole purpose was to promote civic education and social morality.
One of the core aspects of its campaigns was to promote the drinking of hot water. This movement promoted the narrative that hot water was cleaner than room-temperature water. Even after the Nationalist Government lost power to the Communist Government, this campaign continued and was even more intensified.
Also, part of the civic education informed the citizens that hot water was safer because it had no bacteria. This encouraged most people, especially those near river sources, to boil their water before drinking it. Note that in China, the locals also boil tap water to ensure it is safe for drinking. As a result, boiling drinking water is practiced in rural and urban areas.
Even before the government started encouraging people to drink hot water, this behavior was ingrained in their culture. According to Chinese tradition, dating back to 2000 years, there is a practice known as Huangdi Neijing. It highlights that cold water can deter body organs from functioning optimally. Therefore, it promotes the consumption of only hot water.
Traditional Chinese Medicine also advocated balancing yin and yang, which translates to cold and hot energy. These beliefs claimed that focusing only on one could lead to an imbalance in the body and trigger a wide range of health conditions.
Factors That Contributed to the Spread of the Belief
While it’s true that the Chinese government did a commendable job introducing the hot drinking water culture, environmental factors also contributed to its popularity. Back then, offices did not have HVAC systems, but they had water dispensers. Hot water helped most employees keep warm during cold seasons.
Another factor that contributed to this widespread belief is the cholera outbreak that ravaged China in the 1800s. It started in the city of Shanghai and spread to other places. During this time, the locals believed hot water would protect them against Cholera.
True to their beliefs, science has shown that boiling water can kill Cholera germs and help prevent them from spreading. This news spread throughout South China, and everyone started boiling their water before drinking it. To date, the Chinese still believe that hot water can prevent Cholera and several other diseases. It’s even given to ladies to relieve the symptoms of menstrual periods.
The other reason the Chinese love drinking hot water is because it improves digestion. They believe hot water helps break down food into smaller particles for easy digestion. Still, on food, most Chinese meals are served warm. Therefore, it would be irritating to eat a warm meal and immediately wash it down with a cold glass of water.
Finally, it’s impossible not to prefer hot water when it’s the only thing available wherever you go. One of the cultural shocks that foreigners experience in China is that the water dispensers only have one setting – hot water!
In most parts of the world, dispensers have three heat settings: hot, warm, and cold. However, because “hot” is the only option, people get used to this type of water when they are young. As they become adults, they prefer hot water because that’s what they are used to.
Is Hot Water The Only Drink That The Chinese Take?
Besides the Chinese taking several glasses of hot water every day, they also incorporate this beverage into their meals. Are you familiar with hot pot? This is a meal that is cooked right in front of everyone by dipping ingredients into a hot pot of boiling water. In other cases, hot water is sometimes mixed with tea leaves to create a flavorful cup of tea.
The Key Takeaway
China’s preference for drinking hot water isn’t solely based on culture. Their beverage of choice has been proven scientifically beneficial in digestion and overall body health. However, as a foreigner slowly integrating into this culture, it’s a good idea to practice moderation.
Drinking pure hot water without tea leaves or other ingredients may taste odd during the first few days. It takes some getting used to. Also, boiling water can burn your tongue or throat. It’s best to start with tea before making your way up to drinking hot water straight from the dispenser. If this is something that you do not enjoy, feel free to ask for a bottle of cold or room-temperature water. These options are always available in any restaurant or public facility.