A series of signature herbal beverages, including Monk Fruit Cinnamon Americano, Tangerine Peel Americano, Jasmin Seven White Drink, and White Orchid Five Black Drink, are now available at a newly opened café inside Shanghai Longhua Hospital, one of Shanghai’s leading traditional Chinese medicine institutions.
Named “Dongwest”, which embodies the perfect integration of Eastern wisdom and Western lifestyle, the café launches an innovative wellness beverage line that blends authentic TCM herbal ingredients with contemporary coffee and tea culture. Upcoming seasonal delicacies, such as herbal bread and herbal zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings), will also be released in the near future to enrich its wellness food offerings.
Officially launched on August 1 following a soft opening trial, the brand-new café has gained widespread popularity among diverse groups, including inpatients, hospital staff, international visitors, and young health-conscious urban residents.
Located in the hospital’s lobby of Building 1, the café fully considers the physical characteristics and dietary needs of different guests, covering patients, accompanying family members, medical workers, and visitors. During the trial operation period, it has received many international guests. Western visitors tend to pursue classic pure coffee flavors, while local Chinese consumers favor mild, herb-infused beverages that better adapt to Eastern body constitutions.
“Rooted in the hospital’s professional TCM advantages, we jointly develop all menu items with Longhua Hospital’s expert team to integrate ordinary coffee and tea with exclusive herbal formulas,” said Cao Xue, person in charge of the Dongwest café. “Adhering to the concept of healthy daily consumption, we have launched a wide range of zero-sugar and low-sugar wellness drinks suitable for long-term daily intake.”
The café’s flagship 24 Solar Terms Seasonal Wellness Series features dual selections of caffeinated and caffeine-free drinks to accommodate different physical conditions and daily needs. Caffeine-free options include the Jasmin Seven White Drink and White Orchid Five Black Drink, developed based on traditional TCM wellness formulas. For caffeinated beverages, natural herbal ingredients such as dried tangerine peel, cinnamon, monk fruit, rose, and lemongrass are scientifically blended to neutralize coffee’s inherent irritability and reduce stimulation on the stomach and nerves. The herbal-infused series has become particularly popular among female customers, while classic American coffee is retained for purists who prefer original coffee flavors.
Designed with a relaxing and minimalist aesthetic, the café provides a soothing leisure space for medical staff and patients to relieve pressure amid the intense and rigorous medical environment. All herbal drink formulas are co-developed and strictly reviewed by Longhua Hospital’s TCM clinicians before official launch, ensuring both taste compatibility and wellness safety. The brand has also launched customized store formats in other major Shanghai hospitals with differentiated product systems.
The innovative TCM coffee and herbal tea products precisely cater to the booming wellness trend among young people aged 25 to 40, who pursue a balanced lifestyle of “enjoying indulgence while maintaining health”.
TCM professionals have released authoritative public health guidance for trendy herbal wellness beverages. Experts emphasize that herb-infused coffee and tea are lifestyle wellness drinks rather than medicinal therapeutic products, and cannot replace professional medical treatment.
“Consumers should choose beverages rationally according to their personal body constitution and physical state, instead of blindly following internet trends,” explained Dr Li Shaobin from the Department of Preventive Medicine at Shanghai Longhua Hospital.
“People with weak spleen and stomach function, sensitive gastrointestinal tracts, pregnant women, and patients undergoing standardized clinical treatment must consume these drinks with extreme caution. Excessive intake of iced beverages and high-sugar drinks will easily cause sub-health problems including chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, insomnia and poor immunity. It is crucial to uphold moderate consumption. No single wellness formula fits all people, and added herbal ingredients can only alleviate — but not completely eliminate — coffee’s stimulant properties.”
According to Longhua Hospital officials, the innovative TCM-themed café serves as a vivid public platform to popularize traditional Chinese medicine culture and promote scientific healthy lifestyles. To further expand public accessibility, a new offline herbal wellness store affiliated with the hospital will soon open at the hospital’s entrance, allowing more citizens to experience standardized TCM wellness catering.
