Brace yourself: Today marks the start of the hottest summer days

It’s going to get hot real soon. Do what locals do and try these five local food and drink to beat the heat

Today marks the start of Dashu 大暑 on Chinese calendars which kicks off two weeks of the hottest days of summer. Calculated by ancient Chinese scholars who kept records of the sun’s position in the sky, this period is when China is exposed to the most amount of sunshine. This year, Dashu is supposed to last till August 8. 

Modern science backs it up: The meteorological service has issued a warning this morning that it’s going to be oppressively hot as the mercury is expected to rise above 35C. While bearable because Beijing’s summers are typically dry, this year it’s going to feel 10 degrees warmer because of the humidity with heat in the day and thunderstorms at night. 

Seeing how the ancients have managed to get the science right, perhaps you should try these five Chinese food and drink that apparently helps you cool down.

Drink hot water

Photo: Unsplash.com

You know this was going to top our list. Well, this cure-it-all remedy extends to cooling down in summer. While there are many health theories attributed to this mysterious elixir, the most common is that it balances cold and humidity in one’s body, promoting blood circulation and toxin release. We’d also like to add that you’ll perspire buckets when drinking it in 35C heat which will make any slight breeze on your skin feel cooling.   

Lychee

Photo: Wikipedia 

Dashu is when the Chinese eat lots of lychee as it is high in water content and believed to be great for relieving the heat and keeping the body hydrated. Alcohol on the other hand dehydrates. What we’re saying is that lychee martinis aren’t what the locals had in mind if you’re trying this method of cooling down. 

Grass Jelly

Photo: Wikipedia

Grass jelly, a slightly bitter, and translucent dark treat made from boiling a type of mint plant and cooled with starch until it becomes a gelatin. You probably know it if you drink bubble tea as it is a typical option to add into your sugar fix. Summer is when locals usually indulge as it has cooling ‘yin’ properties to balance out the strong ‘yang’ from the sun.

Hot mutton soup

We’re discovering that looking for Chinese remedies is a bit like golf. If it feels wrong, it’s right. So if it’s blistering out, the Chinese recommend that you head to your favourite mutton soup stall and slurp on a gut-warming bowl. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the boiling temperature of the soup relives the body’s internal heat and boosts the immune system. 

Ginger tea

According to traditional Chinese medicine, eating ginger in summer accelerates perspiration to cool the body and increases blood circulation. In other words, sweat good, holing up in an air-conditioned room bad.  

Unconvinced? Well, go find an outdoor pool to throw yourself into or head to the city’s many ice cream shops . Just don’t forget to bring the lychees.

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