In Guangdong, the Ultimate Destination of Coffee Shops is Herbal Tea Houses!

While other places enjoy a mild March with blossoming flowers and pleasant temperatures, March in Guangdong means a scorching sun and 30-degree heat. Under those conditions, locals typically complain of being "damp and hot," suffering from "excessive internal heat," developing "mouth ulcers," or dealing with other heat-related discomforts. Then you can always hear a family member say: "I've brewed herbal tea, come drink it quickly," or "I've made dampness-removing soup, have a few more bowls," or "Why drink coffee in such hot weather? Drink herbal tea instead."

As stubborn Guangdong coffee lovers, how could we let a little dampness, heat, or internal warmth stand in the way of our passion for coffee? Even when there is no actual coffee to be had, we still keep up the ritual of coffee drinking.

Guangdong's March Limited Edition: Iced Herbal Coffee Specialties

Recently, coffee shop owners across Guangdong have begun selling a March limited edition that would leave both Guangdong mothers and coffee lovers speechless: Iced Cantonese Herbal Coffee, Xiasangju Pour Over, and Herbal "Espresso" Grains. Some even build bases that reflect the distinct herbal tea traditions of different parts of Guangdong, making them more locally authentic.

Iced Cantonese (ICE Cantono)

Iced Cantonese typically uses pure herbal tea (Bansha tea in the Guangzhou area) as its base, mixed with ice cubes made from filtered Pearl River Delta water. The result is a refreshing, heat-relieving, dampness-expelling drink that might also have a laxative effect. Before serving, customers can choose to add nine-processed tangerine peel or licorice plum strips, colloquially known as "nose candy," as a garnish, or enjoy it plain to taste the original flavor.

Xiasangju Pour Over

This one is, without question, a herbal tea made by pouring water through 20g of Xiasangju granules at a 1:10 ratio. Because the extraction rate is high enough to pull 100% of the soluble material from the granules, the water temperature only needs to be held around 40 degrees Celsius. After extraction, the liquids of different concentrations in the pot should be shaken well before tasting.

Herbal Espresso

This one differs from the other two. Since the soul of espresso lies in its crema, this herbal "espresso" made with Banlangen (Isatis root) requires exceptionally finely ground coffee powder. After the coffee powder is carefully distributed and evenly tamped, 10g of Banlangen granules are added and spread evenly across the surface with a distributor before extraction on a pressurized espresso machine.

These can also be turned into specialty iced herbal coffee drinks, adding chrysanthemum, goji berries, licorice, and other ingredients to the iced herbal water according to personal preference.

We have to admit, being a coffee lover in Guangdong in March is genuinely testing. To console themselves, people cannot forget to enjoy herbal tea using coffee preparation methods.

But jokes aside, these herbal teas and herbal coffee drinks can easily cause severe gastrointestinal contractions and the associated pain after drinking. So admire them from a distance, and never try them recklessly.

Remember.

Do not attempt these Guangdong March specialty drinks lightly.

Image credits: Various social media platforms, the creativity of Guangdong baristas, and photography.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If the Guangdong heat has you reaching for something cold and refreshing, a light-roasted pour-over bean beats any herbal experiment. FrontStreet Yirgacheffe Gudingding Cooperative is a washed Ethiopian coffee with citrus, berry, and floral notes and a green-tea-like sweetness that feels especially clean over ice, while FrontStreet Sun-Dried Huakui brings a tropical rush of strawberry, passion fruit, and jackfruit that suits an iced pour-over beautifully.

When brewed with a V60, beans with lively acidity and clear aromatics shine. FrontStreet Strawberry Candy Geisha Blend, pairing a Panamanian Geisha with a honey-processed Costa Rican coffee, shows rose, orange, grape, and blueberry notes, and FrontStreet Kenya Cherry Tomato delivers bright cherry tomato and dark plum flavors with a full, juicy body. Both hold up well when served cold.