Does adding traditional Chinese medicine to ice cream really have health benefits? Doctors say that traditional Chinese medicine does not advocate eating cold foods such as hawthorn, osmanthus, apples, longan, red dates, rice paste, Poria cocos, and Job's tears. Since so-called "traditional Chinese medicine foods" such as Chinese medicine drinks and Chinese medicine bread became popular, a certain internet celebrity brand has made "herbal ice cream" a new favorite on social media. Recently, the brand's store also opened in Nanjing to welcome customers, attracting many citizens to come and make purchases and check in. The "traditional Chinese medicine+catering" model focuses on "health branding". Some people are willing to spend money to try it, while others believe it is a "marketing gimmick". What kind of consumer experience does traditional Chinese medicine bring when it meets ice cream? Will these foods mixed with traditional Chinese medicine really have an additional "health value" as a result? With many related questions, the reporter conducted an interview. Is the fusion of herbs in food a "medicinal flavor" or a "new flavor"? On the afternoon of the 12th, the reporter came to this shop with a strong "traditional Chinese medicine room" decoration style. The store focuses on the "new Chinese" healthy lifestyle and offers a variety of herbal flavored ice cream, such as yam, angelica, wolfberry, and black plum juice mulberries, priced at 38 yuan per serving (can be paired). At the same time, some "health drinks" and low sugar snacks are also sold, accompanied by doll products designed based on traditional Chinese medicine ingredients. I haven't thought about ice cream health, mainly because I want to taste new flavors. ”The reporter happened to meet Miss Zhang, who was visiting Nanjing for tourism. She chose a combination of yam, Angelica sinensis, wolfberry, and mung bean and lily soup. I'm afraid the taste of Angelica sinensis will be too strong, at least mung beans and lilies can still be eaten. "Another young girl in her twenties came after seeing people posting various Chinese medicine dolls online and followed the trend by buying four of them: dandelion, cooked rice, wolfberry, and wolfberry. "Because there has always been a little anemia, we prefer the flavor of red dates when we eat bread and yogurt, so we also choose the flavor of longan, red dates and rice syrup from other families." "Hawthorn, longan and tuckahoe are often used to cook Congee and stew in the daily diet of many families, but we use them in ice cream, giving a new taste experience. ”The store manager told reporters that consumers who want to "hunt for novelty" tend to choose the flavors of yam, Angelica sinensis, wolfberry, and Poria cocos and Job's tears, which have a strong medicinal flavor. However, overall, the varieties with a refreshing taste sell better. Traditional Chinese medicine catering is not equal to medicine. Health preservation focuses on a healthy lifestyle. With its unique charm, traditional Chinese medicine has given consumers a brand new consumption experience. The reporter found through social media searches that there are countless posts about traditional Chinese medicine bread, traditional Chinese medicine drinks, etc. Goji berries, longan, poria cocos, tangerine peel, etc. have become the "best companions" of these foods, inevitably giving people a "healthy taste". But as the popularity of traditional Chinese medicine restaurants continues to rise, doubts also follow. Can adding these medicinal and edible products of the same origin to food really have the health benefits it should have? Is it suitable for the general public to enjoy without discrimination? Jiang Zhengyan, Deputy Director of the Department of Spleen and Stomach Diseases at Jiangsu Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, said in an interview with reporters that traditional Chinese medicine health preservation must follow the principles of individual differences, holistic concepts, and dialectical treatment. Each medicinal herb has different biases, and everyone's constitution is also different, so the suitable formula is also different. For example, if traditional Chinese medicine is added to ice cream, the health benefits should be minimal, because traditional Chinese medicine does not advocate eating cold foods like ice cream. It is also unrealistic to expect health benefits just by eating a few slices of bread with traditional Chinese medicine or drinking some traditional Chinese medicine coffee or milk tea. We cannot talk about the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine without considering the dosage. The medicinal herbs themselves, drug ratios, and processing methods all affect the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, so these traditional Chinese medicine restaurants sold on the market are difficult to equate with traditional Chinese medicine. Experts say that in fact, these well-known medicinal herbs with the same origin as food and medicine are not excessively cold or hot, and their bias is relatively weak. Only these herbs are suitable for most people to consume in their daily lives. But when choosing, try to choose foods that are commonly used by the public, uncommon Chinese medicinal materials, even if they are of the same origin as medicine and food, should be carefully selected and used. (New Society)