Pingtan, the closest place on the Chinese mainland to the Taiwan region and a popular coastal tourism destination facing the Taiwan Straits, is turning its famous seasonal "blue tears" natural spectacle into innovative food and beverage products that console disappointed visitors and boost local cultural tourism consumption.

Each spring and summer, bioluminescent plankton create the magical blue glow known as "blue tears" along Pingtan's shores. However, the unpredictable natural display disappoints travelers who wait in vain. Local entrepreneurs have transformed this disappointment into business opportunities by creating signature "blue tears cocktails" and "blue tears coffee" that bring the iconic blue hue into cups.

Zheng Zhizhong, owner of Weixun Highway Bar, is making the blue tears cocktail.

Blue tears cocktail

At Weixun Highway Bar, owner Zheng Zhizhong created the blue tears cocktail after a disappointed tourist asked for a blue drink to ease the letdown of missing the natural spectacle. Inspired by the classic "ocean heart" cocktail, he added sparkling water to mimic the flickering glow of blue tears in waves. The drink has become a signature item, accounting for about 15 percent of total orders. The bar has evolved into a unique "blue tears salon" where visitors get viewing tips, travel help and end their night with a symbolic blue drink, whether they witnessed the spectacle or not.

Many customers say the drink eases their disappointment. "I didn't catch the blue tears, but having this drink is enough," one visitor commented. Another traveler from Hangzhou said, "This drink made my night." Zheng has refined three versions to suit different tastes, including non-alcoholic options, and the drink has become a social-media hit that draws extra visitors to Pingtan.

Blue tears coffee

Exclusive packaging for blue tears coffee

At Surprise Cafe, owner Xue Li drew inspiration from her blue tears-themed artworks to create blue tears coffee. The layered drink-espresso at the bottom, coconut milk in the middle, and natural blue butterfly pea flower tea on top — resembles a mini seascape. Made with natural ingredients, it offers a taste of Pingtan's blue charm for those short on time or unable to make it to the coast. Xue has also turned her artwork into fridge magnets, extending the experience from a single drink to a gift visitors can take home.

The sea doesn't always glow. But in the hands of Pingtan's creators, its blue magic finds another way to reach visitors - not just as a spectacle to chase, but as a taste to savor. Here, a taste of nature becomes a keepsake, and a missed moment becomes a memory worth having-in a cup.