Local celebrity chef Shi Kunhua (Right) directs staff on the ingredient ratio for Caoyan beverages

Check in with a cool drink of Caoyan imprinted with cute windmills emboldened with the word "Pingtan Island," anyone? A refreshing icy concoction that beats the summer heat has been making waves in the latest travel trends.

Caoyan drink

Hailed as one of the "treasured trinity" of Pingtan's traditional comfort food passed down for generations in every household on the island, Caoyan jelly dessert has been making some commercial fame at a tiny unassuming store- Caoyan Refresherie by Longwangtou Beachfront. Thanks to local celebrity chef- Shi Kunhua. The Fujian food connoisseur unleashed two decades of childhood nostalgia and love for his hometown to fix up a healthy jello delight of memory lane to a trendy summer quencher. Shi's persistence in bringing together culture and cuisine allows more people to savor the island's flavor and celebrate its resplendent food culture.

Caoyan coolers to welcome summer

In Caoyan Refresherie, eye-catching bottles containing curious-looking crystal-white globs of jello decked the shelves. Cute hand-drawn cartoons of windmills, stone houses, and ocean waves - all of Pingtan's iconic elements amp up the playful mood of the packaging, giving this local summer quencher a modern twist. A drink that looks and tastes good! Also, picture-perfect for a quick social snap!

"Cool and refreshing. It simply melts in your mouth. Just perfect for summer," Zhang Biting said while holding a cup of Caoyan fruit jelly, seemingly enjoying every bit of the dessert. Zhang said as a non-local, hearing the history and story behind this drink from the boss made it extra special.

Caoyan 

Caoyan is a refreshing summertime jelly dessert known for its cooling properties made from agar weed harvested from the rocky reefs of Pingtan. As a venerable folk treasure, the jelly is well-loved by the locals for many health benefits, such as inflammation alleviation and cooling properties that soothe the throat and nourish the lungs.

As a beloved culinary treasure steeped in local tradition, it is no coincidence how Caoyan finds its way into the hands of curious tourists. "Caoyan is my childhood memory. I remember the days when my parents would boil Caoyan into tea, fill them into a water bottle and bring them to work. Sometime later, as I got into Chinese culinary, I began looking for ways to elevate this local dessert," Shi Kunhua said.

In 2021, when a Chinese hit variety food show, "Jiayou Ganfanren," came to Pingtan, Shi once again presented the local specialty to the dinner table for a panel of celebrities-serving a regal platter of frozen jelly dessert with a medley of vibrant seasonal fruits and crisp greens. But is that all there is to this amazing superfood? Shi is not satisfied with just bringing the dish to formal dining functions or a restaurant. His goals- preserve Pingtan flavor and bring its food culture to greater heights by keeping up with the trend of the times. Hence, a local drink shop that serves a slice of local flavor and childhood memory was born.

Caoyan Refresherier sits by Longwangtou Bathing Beach of Pingtan

"I think that we should not limit Caoyan to conventions. It is not merely a Chinese dish served in a formal sit-down dinner. In Chinese cuisine, food is like a blank canvas subjected to the painter's imagination. So I came up with a drink shop," Shi Kunhua said. Since the soft opening on April 29 this year, the feedback from tourists has been sensational, with sales reaching up to 700 cups per day.

Caoyan fruit and vegetable salad

Caoyan jelly with passion fruit

"Our menu is pretty extensive. We have the traditional Caoyan, but we also serve creative artisanal drinks like " Coco Mango Caoyan" and more. We have about 30 items under 5 different beverage types: Caoyan fruit tea, Caoyan smoothie, artisanal drinks, etc. You can choose from sweet to salty flavors," Shi said.

For Shi, he is not merely serving a simple cup of beverage but a "cup of culture." At Longwangtou Beach, this bright blue 12 square-meter beverage store stands out as a cultural icon, vibing with the island's playful and youthful culture.

"We have put a lot of effort into the design because we see it as a store with feelings and creativity, promoting Pingtan's culture by doing what we love," Shi Kunhua said.

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