At home, restaurants, and in the office, you’ll often see Chinese people ordering hot water.
In this episode of “Why Chinese,” we’re diving into the history of China’s preference for hot water, from public health campaigns that encouraged it for hygienic reasons to explanations in traditional Chinese medicine.
With thanks to Cinci Leung for the interview.
This is “Why Chinese,” a series where we’re debunking common stereotypes about Chinese people one Google search at a time.
If you liked this video, we have more explainers about China, including:
Why Do Chinese People Seem to Eat ‘Everything’? – Why Chinese (E1)
How Did the NBA Piss Off an Entire Country?
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Producer: Jessica Novia
Editor: Hanley Chu
Animation: Ray Ngan and Cyan Cheung
Mastering: Victor Peña
Music: Audio Network
They boil the water to kill the pathogens, germs.
This is what deters me from traveling to China even though there are wonders to see. I went there once and there was no iced water to be found; it felt like a living hell to me.
Chinese: why not?
drink hot water 💦
其实和热水在中国不会超过100年，中医压根没有消毒的意识，古人和热水需要砍柴烧火，非常麻烦。
真相是日本在侵华的时候大量往河里投毒，死了很多平民，所以政府开始宣传把睡烧到100°消毒，结束战争后河水也不干净，慢慢的成为了一种习俗。
Drinking tap water in China without boiling it first is usually fast lane to the hospital.
Number 2 is still very much a reason to boil any water you might consume in China.
Hell no
I may not be Chinese, but my whole life I've preferred hot water, hot tea, hot chocolate with hot water, only soft drinks i drink cold. Unless i can find heated verisons of soft drinks, then I'd have a hot soft drink. Hot water is just soothing and tastes good. The only downside is that, where i live its always really hot and you cant find hot water machines unless at a hotel. My parents have always tried to get me to drink cold water more, because it helps hydrate. But so does hot water! Hot water actually helps for ao much more than cold water does. I feel warm, comfy, at ease when i have a beverage of hot water. Hot water for life.