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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
ZHENGZHOU, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) — Qi Qi makes an hour-long trip to downtown Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, three times a week just to visit her favorite traditional Chinese medicine restaurant.
“The food here is light in flavor, the ingredients are fresh, and the diet is healthy,” she said.
The restaurant at the Dongjitang Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Clinic serves signature dishes made with medicinal herbs, such as rice noodles with perilla and fish, and ginger and date paste.
About 900 kilometers away, in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in eastern China, at the 376-year-old Fanghui Chuntang TCM Clinic, one of China's time-tested brands, many young people were making sachets filled with the scent of medicinal herbs.
Ms. Ma, born in the 1990s and known by her English name, Yelin, traveled all the way from Shanghai just to make it herself. After carefully selecting the necessary herbal ingredients, she patiently ground them. "The process of selecting medicinal herbs yourself instills confidence, and the grinding process is unique," she said.
According to Yang Lei from the store, the sachets serve a variety of functions: refreshing, calming, sleep-inducing, and so on. "Customers especially value herbs that help them sleep," she told Xinhua. "By making their own sachets, young people are becoming more familiar with TCM."
From ginseng pancakes to herbal tea, the aroma of medicinal herbs permeating modern life has transformed TCM from a simple remedy for ailments into a trendy component of daily wellness in China.
Chinese people, especially young people, are increasingly placing importance on health. A "Future of Wellness" survey conducted by consulting firm McKinsey earlier this year found that 94 percent of consumers in China consider health a "top" or "important" priority, compared to 79 percent in the UK and 84 percent in the US.
"With the growing interest of Chinese youth in health issues and the strengthening of their cultural identity, traditional Chinese medicine is now showing new vitality," said Lu Peiwan, a professor at Henan University of Chinese Medicine.
Wu Yueguo, a professor at Hangzhou Medical College, noted that the TCM craze reflects a transformation in young people's health perceptions and a significant improvement in their understanding of TCM culture. "In today's rapidly changing society, young people tend to face health problems due to staying up late and sitting for long hours at work," he said. "TCM meets these people's needs to 'stay healthy in their daily lives,' and its various forms range from tea to food, lowering the barrier to accessing TCM treatment."
In March of this year, the General Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China published a series of recommendations to improve the quality of TCM and promote the high-quality development of the TCM industry. The supply of TCM materials continues to grow, and the area cultivated for such materials has doubled over the past decade.
The popularity of TCM today has also opened up new business opportunities.
During the peak of China's 11.11 online shopping season, Dunhua Changyou Food Co., Ltd. (Changyou), a snack food manufacturer in northeastern China's Jilin Province, was working at full capacity to fulfill orders.
"Goji berry pancakes are our best-selling products, especially popular among young people," said Chen Changyou, the company's chairman.
The company's location in Dunhua, Jilin Province, is located at the western foot of Changbai Mountain, a renowned production base for valuable Chinese medicinal herbs such as ginseng, ganoderma lucidum, and schisandra.
The company collaborated with the Department of Food and Life Sciences at Yanbian University to develop snacks using local herbal delicacies.
In 2024, total ginseng production in Jilin Province exceeded 80.7 billion yuan (approximately $11.4 billion), representing a 13.9 percent year-on-year increase. Provincial authorities believe the industry can reach its target of 100 billion yuan this year.
In addition to ginseng, other herbs commonly found in traditional Chinese medicine formulations, such as Schisandra chinensis and Ganoderma lucidum, have been selected to add distinctive flavor and nutritional value to Changyou's food products.
"Based on the rich resources of Chinese herbal medicine in Jilin, we will increase our R&D efforts to create Chinese herbal pancakes," said Chen Changyou.
Fanghui Chuntang has also developed new products, including TCM combs, TCM gels, and beverages. "We're always thinking about how to revitalize traditional TCM recipes to appeal to modern consumers," said Yu Tian, head of the company's brand center.
"Perseverance is the key to maintaining health with TCM," she continued. "We hope to promote the concept of 'nurturing' TCM so that it becomes a daily habit for the general public." -0-
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