What makes coffee naming a cultural flashpoint in Chaoshan?

A coffee shop launched a cold brew drink called "Chaoshan Poison" priced at 45 yuan, and it drew immediate criticism online. In Chaoshan, that phrase has long referred to raw marinated seafood, not coffee. The drink instead combines cold brew with green olive juice, topped with old medicinal kumquat and bamboo salt wampee, so the name points somewhere the ingredients do not.

Chaoshan netizens responded in dialect, calling the coffee naming misleading and saying the shop misread local food culture. The episode has reopened a broader question about how far creativity in specialty coffee and fine coffee should stretch regional terms. Using a name tied to a specific local dish invites confusion when the drink itself shares none of its ingredients, preparation, or flavor.

Recently, a coffee shop launched a special drink called "Chaoshan Poison," sparking heated discussion among netizens. In Chaoshan cuisine, "Chaoshan Poison" has long been synonymous with raw marinated seafood, yet this coffee priced at 45 yuan mainly features cold brew coffee and green olive juice, garnished with Chaoshan old medicinal kumquat and bamboo salt wampee, which is far removed from public perception. Chaoshan netizens have expressed their dissatisfaction in dialect, believing the name misleads consumers and that the shop lacks understanding of local food culture. This article will review the course of events and explore the boundary between local specialty coffee creativity and naming.

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With the booming development of tourism, the cuisine of the Chaoshan region has gradually come into public view, with the most representative being the richly local raw marinated seafood. Freshly caught seafood is cleaned and prepared, then marinated briefly with soy sauce, chili, scallions, garlic and other seasonings to create a dish known for its fresh sweetness.

Many diners say after tasting it that they are "addicted," and even make sure to have a portion every time they visit Chaoshan, which is why raw marinated seafood has been dubbed "Chaoshan Poison" by gourmands.

Recently, a coffee shop launched a special drink named "Chaoshan Poison." This naming immediately reminded netizens of raw marinated seafood, and everyone began speculating about how this drink could possibly combine raw marination with coffee.

Driven by curiosity, many netizens went to the shop to find out, but when they ordered and saw the drink the staff brought over, their original expectations mostly turned into confusion. According to the shop, this 45-yuan "Chaoshan Poison" contains cold brew coffee and green olive juice, and is garnished with Chaoshan old medicinal kumquat and bamboo salt wampee.

It can be said that this drink, whether in appearance or ingredients, has nothing to do with what visitors had in mind when they thought of "Chaoshan Poison." Chaoshan netizens left comments in dialect expressing dissatisfaction with this misnamed "Chaoshan Poison." Some said "散死物" (meaning messing around), while others said bluntly, "The owner is definitely not from Chaoshan."

Other netizens who were puzzled thought the name easily caused ambiguity, saying it was "as scary as drinking Meng Po soup a few years ago."

In fact, specialty coffees featuring Chaoshan preserved fruits such as old medicinal kumquat and old citron are not uncommon. Some Chaoshan coffee brands use them as signature items to attract out-of-town tourists who want to try something new, but most of them would not name a drink "Chaoshan Poison."

In public perception, "Chaoshan Poison" has already become firmly tied to raw marinated seafood. Therefore, in the eyes of Chaoshan netizens, using this name for a drink may mislead customers who do not understand Chaoshan cuisine, making them think the so-called "Chaoshan Poison" is nothing more than an ordinary cup of coffee.

In addition, some pointed out that if a shop wants to launch coffee drinks with local characteristics, it should have some understanding of the local food culture.

In the introduction of another special product also named "Chaoshan Poison," the shop defined the old medicinal kumquat, bamboo peak salt wampee, and licorice olive used in the drink as the "Three Treasures of Chaoshan" (note: the "Three Treasures of Chaoshan" refer to old citron, old medicinal kumquat, and preserved wampee). In the eyes of Chaoshan netizens, this is extremely inappropriate, as they believe this promotional copy will not only mislead out-of-town consumers but also hinder the spread of accurate knowledge about Chaoshan culture.

Creative coffee infused with local cuisine may not suit everyone's taste, but it is more or less a way for out-of-town tourists to learn about local specialties. Therefore, netizens believe that when launching such special drinks, shops should do their homework first and must not convey a wrong impression to consumers from other regions.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.