Caffeine Fixes in China
So you need a caffeine fix in China, huh? This is the only (short and sweet) guide you need.
The only reason you are reading it is because I’m exhausted from too little caffeine, and rather than run outside to get some, I figured blogging about it might provide a pick me up.
3 Types of Caffeine in China
Leaving out illegally produced speed & ephedrine for the moment, there are three main types of caffeine in China:
- Tea (who would’ve thought?)
- Cola
- Coffee
Tea in China… is everywhere
Tea is ubiquitous in China. Whether it is of the hot, carry around in a tea case variety (green, jasmine, oolong, guanyin, or any of the other many types of Chinese tea), iced tea, afternoon ‘milk tea’, or ‘pearl milk tea’, you should be able to get a little caffeine. This is also (debatedly) the most common form of caffeine available in China.
Coke & Pepsi… sugary caffeine fix
You can find Coke and Pepsi, along with many of their offshoot drinks (nixay on the Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew, though), pretty much anywhere in China. Definitely a decent caffeine fix for those who need it.
Coffee… the ultimate caffeine fix
Coffee is available everywhere in China – unfortunately, anywhere outside of the larger modern cities (and a handful of expat oriented travel destinations) coffee usually comes in the instant variety, chug just for a bit of caffeine, kind.
In the larger coastal cities, Starbucks is expanding at a furious pace, with other shops like Illy making some headway into the Chinese market. But not everyone can afford expensive good coffee in China.
Where do you get cheap good coffee in China?
This is a true conundrum… it’s hard to find good, cheap coffee in China. For those lucky enough to live near an Ikea, you can always get a french press (79-99 RMB) plus vacuum sealed decent coffee (19-25 RMB for 250 grams) to do the brewing on your own.
Beyond that, the only cheap coffee in China I know of is the local stuff from Yun’nan province, and the insta-crap from the store.
Final message to those in search of a caffeine fix
Don’t worry, in terms of caffeine, China won’t leave you high and dry. There are plenty of options in China for the caffeine addict.
One option not to be overlooked for not-too-expensive coffee in major cities that have ‘em is McDonalds. Sure, it’s not Starbucks, but it’s also not instant. It’s been years since I lived in China, so I don’t know how much it costs these days but it has to be cheaper than Starbucks.
McDonald’s coffee is definitely cheaper than Starbucks… and you can also brew a cheaper cup on your own if you put in the effort. But for on the go coffee in major Chinese cities, Micky D’s might just be the way to go for the budget conscious.
Not much different from the States in that regard.
I like to pick up some Nestle coffee in cans from the cooler section at a supermarket. If I’m desperate, I’ll chug a red bull.
Red Bull is cheap in China – way too cheap. I’ve stayed off it thus far though.