钱不是万能的，热水才是...... | Why do Chinese like drinking hot water?

Temperatures drop significantly in October, and then hot water gains popularity. In schools, offices, and even train stations, many Chinese people will carry around thermoses filled with hot water.

But in Western countries, drinking hot water isn't common. Westerners often take beverages with ice, not just on hot days but almost every day.

There is a story online that a British man, who has been in Beijing for over five years, visited a local cafe during his trip in England. He was waited on by a friendly waitress and in a classy British accent said, "Can I have a glass of hot water? Please?" The waitress' eyes widened. She was so confused. "To… to… to drink?" she replied. Eventually, the man received the steaming liquid but felt cold stares from every corner of the cafe.

Westerners are as curious about why Chinese people drink hot water as Chinese are about why Westerners drink cold water.

This cultural difference is not a simple issue, but related to history, culture, and science.

In the history of Western countries, people paid a high price for mistaken understanding of drinking water. In the past, epidemics arising from contaminated drinking water killed millions, alongside the acceleration of urbanization. 

According to Wikipedia, seven cholera pandemics have occurred in the past 200 years. Lack of treatment of human feces and lack of treatment of drinking water greatly facilitate the spread of cholera. In 1853-54, London's epidemic claimed 10,739 lives and ended after the physician John Snow proved contaminated water was the main agent spreading cholera and convinced officials to remove a contaminated pump's handle.

▲ A pump memorializes John Snow for his study 

The British authorities settled riots caused by cholera by introducing laws and building drinking water treatment systems. Then, this development extended to other European countries.

The interesting point is that epidemics arising from contaminated water did not greatly spread in China during the same period, which was Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is partly because population movement is much less common in China than that in Western countries due to cultural, economic and political factors. Additionally, hot water, which is able to kill bacteria, has been widely applied in traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese tea culture for thousands of years.

When did Chinese start to drink hot water? It is difficult to provide a precise answer. Archaeologists found pottery dating to 20,000 years ago with limescale on the inner bottom and smudges of smoke on the outer. They believe the pottery was used to cook food and heat water. 

▲ A piece of crockery used by ancient Chinese to heat water. 

Drinking hot water is considered to be healthier among Chinese people. Traditional Chinese medicine explains drinking cold water leads to an imbalance in internal temperature. Bodys' normal temperature is 37℃, which keeps the smooth flow of blood circulation and maintains the regular operation of the body's organs. Cold water has the effect of slowing and contracting. 

When drinking cold water, the body will consume energy to make up for the dropped temperature. If the body is too weak to warm up, some syndromes may present themselves, like cold hands and feet, Raynaud's phenomenon (the fingers turning white after exposure to temperature changes or emotional events), a weak appetite, poor digestion or abdominal pain.

Drinking hot water also can be seen as a cultural continuity passed down from generation to generation. Millennials in China are taught to drink boiled water and stay away from iced water by their parents and grandparents. 

As a matter of fact, many youngsters now rely on bottled water for daily drinking. With the younger generation growing up, will drinking hot water become a less popular life habit? Who knows! 

How about you? Do you stick to cold or hot water? And what makes you do so?

Editor: Zhang Xi

Intern: Zhong Wenxing Click here for audio and translation of the story

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