How the morning tea tradition has become a new economic driver in Wuzhong

Located on the banks of the Yellow River, Wuzhong has developed a unique culinary culture through centuries of trade and cultural exchange.

Similar to the Western tradition of brunch, the ‘morning tea’ moment in China is known as a relaxed outdoor dining activity, where people can enjoy signature dishes throughout the morning, often while chatting with family and friends. Signature ‘morning tea’ dishes in Wuzhong include Lamian noodles, steamed buns, and babao cha, a type of tea made from a blend of eight ingredients.

Wuzhong was awarded the title of ‘iconic morning tea culture city’ by the China Culinary Association in 2021 due to its rapidly growing morning tea industry. There are more than 800 morning tea shops throughout the city, with annual revenues exceeding 1.8 billion yuan (1 yuan = Rp2,660).

The city has organised an annual Morning Tea Culture Festival since 2021 to further promote its morning tea industry. These events have attracted a total of 13.37 million visitors and driven consumption by 3.542 billion yuan, emerging as a new driver of economic growth for the city.