On a lighter note, a traditional Beijing beverage called douzhi — made from fermented mung beans and often described as tasting like “stinky feet and rotten milk” — has gone viral among China’s TikTok generation. The sour, pungent drink, long a staple of old Beijing street food culture, is experiencing a renaissance as young consumers seek out “authentic” local flavors. It’s a reminder that in the age of social media, even the most acquired of tastes can find a mass audience.
Walter Murrow
May 9, 2026
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