Want to try "Aunt Flo" or "Citrus Cool"? This drink shop in Kaohsiung takes a healthy approach

▲ Orange Citrus DE De showcases 12 layered butterfly pea flower drinks, making quite an impression. (Photo / fromOrange Citrus DE De’s official Facebook page, the same below)

Reporter Huang Shengmin / Interview and report

Can drinking beverages actually make your body healthier? Most people assume drinks are bad for health and cause weight gain, so they try to avoid them. ButOrange Citrus DE Debreaks this stereotype by incorporating healthy concepts into their drinks. Their creative drink names even include something called "Aunt Flo," bringing a smile to customers' faces.

▲ The naming of Orange Citrus DE De has an interesting backstory.

Orange Citrus DE De has been operating in Kaohsiung for four years, but unlike other beverage shops, it focuses on "health." For example, when ordering pure tea, the menu suggests choosing no sugar or low sugar to reduce health burdens. The butterfly pea flower layered drinks are one of their recent highlights—all 12 beverages use natural anthocyanins, creating gradient colors through the interaction of ingredients with different pH levels. For instance, "First Love" combines cranberry, Thai basil, and butterfly pea flowers to create a sweet purple-red hue; "Azure Pearl" mixes butterfly pea flowers with milk and tapioca pearls to produce a calming blue gradient. By adjusting ingredients based on their properties, both the visual and taste experiences are delightful.

Additionally, the shop occasionally introduces special drinks. For example, "Aunt Flo" is made with cranberry sparkling water, and "Citrus Cool" is a citrus lemon sparkling drink. These fun names attract attention and make Orange Citrus DE De stand out. However, the sparkling drinks are currently limited-time offers and not always available—you might need some luck to get them.

▲ "Aunt Flo" is one of their periodically available layered drinks.

Speaking of the shop name, owner QQ explained that it’s inspired by Kaohsiung’s iconic figure, former mayor Chen Chu. The name "Orange Citrus" phonetically resembles "Kaohsiung" (高雄), while "DE De" comes from the shop owner’s daughter, who used to say she wanted to drink "ㄉㄟˊ ㄙㄨㄟˇ" (a child’s pronunciation of "DE DE"). It symbolizes "high energy." QQ believes what sets Orange Citrus DE De apart from other drink shops is that they sell "people" and "attitude." Their goal isn’t just profit—it’s about delivering each cup of drink with care, ensuring customers enjoy their drinks and find joy in the interaction. That’s what makes this shop truly unique.

▲ The shop loves giving drinks playful and creative names.

Their health-focused strategy is also unique. Starting with the basics—sugar—they carefully select natural cane sugar. QQ explained that regular fructose is harder for the body to metabolize, so the shop only uses three types: brown sugar, black sugar, and cane sugar. Even their full-sugar option tastes like medium-sugar at other shops, reducing health concerns. As for their gradient drinks, there’s a story behind that too.The shop owner’s mother has diabetes, and butterfly pea flowers help stabilize blood sugar. Inspired, the owner began developing related drinks, aiming to support health naturally. The future plan to create sparkling drinks also stems from medical reports showing that carbonated water can boost blood oxygen levels in people with anemia or oxygen deficiency.The owner even tested the drinks herself for a month and noticed improved complexion, which further motivated the shop to pursue the "healthy drink" direction.

▲ Orange Citrus DE De hopes to create joy through interactions with customers.

Drinks are often seen as unhealthy, but Orange Citrus DE De flips the narrative. They aim to make people not only healthier but also happier through their drinks. With the principle of "only serving what we’d drink ourselves," they continue to find extraordinary joy in connecting with their customers.

Orange Citrus DE De
Address: No. 266, Xingzhong 1st Rd., Lingya District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: (07)338-9076
Business Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00–22:00; Sunday 10:00–20:00