Millet Bran Tea

Millet Bran Tea

　　Beizhen Millet Bran Tea, this long-standing local specialty, though not widely known, has become a hit in the ancient city and is definitely worth trying. After drinking it a few times, you'll find its piping hot, aromatic flavor utterly addictive.

　　At the crack of dawn, when the sky just begins to show a pale light in the east, if you walk into the old street and head toward Miaotou, you’ll always see a small cart selling millet bran tea surrounded by people—especially during the coldest days of winter, when a bowl of millet bran tea feels truly refreshing. Holding the warm bowl in your hands, as cozy as a hand warmer, the thick yet not dry, thin yet not watery millet bran tea is like a mellow, fragrant spring. It feels extremely comforting as you drink it, instantly warming your heart and driving away the chill—its magic lies precisely in keeping the cold at bay.

　　Zhao Family’s Millet Bran Tea is said to be the most authentic, having been passed down through generations. People swear by Zhao Family’s version, and are willing to wake up early and rush to the area under the Drum Tower just to have one or two bowls. Each bowl costs only one yuan, making it incredibly affordable. Zhao Family’s millet bran tea sells out quickly—just two or three hours are enough to sell four or five hundred bowls, an impressive feat. Nowadays, there are millet bran tea carts in several major markets, spawning branches like the Zhang Family, Li Family, and Zhu Family, each with their own name. The locals all love it, especially the elderly, who are particularly addicted. One elderly man over 80 said he’s loved millet bran tea since he was young and has been drinking it for over fifty years. He even thumped his chest loudly to show how strong millet bran tea has kept him. I asked the tea sellers a few times for more insight, but they’re far too busy to entertain such questions—and they certainly won’t casually reveal their secret recipe for fear of it being stolen and used by competitors.

　　After drinking millet bran tea a few times, I found myself unexpectedly hooked—if I skipped a day, my stomach would start growling, so I simply ended up going every day. Walking just 15 minutes early in the morning gets me to the tea stand, and arriving even a bit later means waiting in line. Millet bran tea is a unique specialty of Beizhen, said to have a history of several hundred years. In the past, people drank it without spoons and didn’t sit down—they’d sip it straight from the bowl using their lips while rotating the bowl in hand, finishing it spotlessly clean. A bowl of millet bran tea topped with two spoonfuls of cruller eggs has a truly distinctive taste—no wonder it has remained popular for so many years.

　　With the deepening of reforms, more and more people are drinking millet bran tea. When asked why, the answers are straightforward: first, for better digestion; second, for the simple pleasure of the flavor; third, to stave off hunger during morning exercise—each reason makes quite a bit of sense. However, Beizhen Millet Bran Tea remains a local treasure, still relatively unknown outside the area. But during last year’s Pear Blossom Festival and Lüshan Flower Viewing event, it finally got some recognition—many out-of-town visitors tried it and were impressed enough to remember it. Someone who works in a big city but is originally from here said that every time they visit home, they never miss the chance to drink their hometown’s millet bran tea. They added with deep feeling, “If Beizhen Millet Bran Tea could be introduced to a big city, it would surely be a huge hit—a real goldmine!”

　　I truly hope that Beizhen Millet Bran Tea can bask in some of the glory of Lüshan Mountain and earn praise from people around the world.