For many Chinese people, nothing is more common than drinking hot water every day. However, the simple habit is like a mystery to some from other countries, since it’s not a common practice in many parts of the world to drink hot water alone.
With this year’s Two Sessions underway in Beijing, a picture repeatedly appeared on TV showing waiters at the conference hall pouring hot water into the senior officials’ cups at their tables. Some people used the water to make tea while others just drank it straight. The phenomenon even had the curiosity of some western media and was covered as a news story.
For many Westerners, the idea of drinking plain hot water is very odd. However, most Chinese people think the Americans' habit of drinking ice water is equally bizarre and even unhealthy. Some seniors would even carry a tea kettle when they travel, since their Chinese stomachs refuse to take the cold water from the tap.
Honestly, most of the Chinese people themselves can’t figure out the reason for the preference for hot water over the cold. Most people would just attribute it to a matter of “custom” or “cultural difference”, with a number of explanations:
I. Tea culture:
Some argue that the hot water habit is derived from China’s ancient tea culture. Since the love for tea in China can be traced back to ancient times, it has caused Chinese families to use boiled water. However, neighboring countries like Japan and Korea, which also share a similar tea culture, don’t seem to enjoy the pleasure of hot water.
II. Hygienic concerns:
In China, it is believed that boiled water can greatly reduce the bacteria from tap water, which is why it’s considered healthier. Some people argue that the simple sterilization method has actually saved China from many major plagues in history like the Black Death. Even today, the hygienic practice is still something in urgent need in some parts of the world.
III. Historical reasons:
A relatively new perspective on this issue says the habit has a lot to do within certain historical context. In the 1950’s, China called on its people to drink hot water for health concerns, and built many boiler rooms providing hot water supply for all residents nearby. It is a relic left over from the days of the centrally planned economy.
In China, there’s nothing strange in requesting a hot water in your restaurant, just like asking for free tap water in a western restaurant. Nowadays an increasing number of Chinese doctors are encouraging more people outside China to take on the habit of drinking hot water, especially for women when they are menstruating, stating it is simply more soothing to the stomach.