10/20/2025
Hospitals across China are going viral for introducing “herbal medicine bakeries.”
The trend began in April, when a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital in eastern Jiangsu province started selling bread infused with ingredients commonly used in TCM such as lotus seeds and poria — a type of mushroom — at its cafeteria. Based on TCM theory, these herbs are believed to strengthen the spleen, boost energy, and reduce internal heat.
On its debut day, the loaves, numbering in the thousands, sold out within an hour.
In the northern city of Tianjin, another hospital opened an herbal bakery in its outpatient hall, offering lotus-leaf cooling buns and astragalus — the root of a flowering plant — health rolls. Beijing’s TCM giant Tong Ren Tang launched similar bakeries in shopping malls, while some other hospitals are selling sugar-free milk tea made with herbal ingredients.
Herbal bread prices range from 10 to 30 yuan ($1.40–$4.10). One customer told domestic media, “It does taste different from regular bread, but it’s actually quite good.”
Medical experts note that the medicinal content in these breads and teas is relatively low and unlikely to deliver “real” health benefits. Others, however, see the trend as reflecting young Chinese consumers’ growing interest in wellness and a positive reminder to stay health-conscious.
