The Taste of Kashi – Episode 2: Plums, Pain and Possibilities

The Taste of Kashi is a new unscripted series by CGTN that takes the form of a thrilling 100-hour challenge in the desert city of Kashi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Nadim Diab, a journalist, content creator and coffee lover, faces an ambitious task: to craft a brew that captures the essence of this storied city. With the clock ticking, Nadim must navigate an unfamiliar landscape to draw inspiration – and ingredients – from the local culture and people. Luckily, help is never too far away.

Nadim's suspicions are finally confirmed in Episode 2 when Dili, a local coffee shop owner, reveals the challenge's true nature. There's little time to waste, and so the hunt for ingredients begins and Nadim finds himself in a market for dry fruits and desiccated flowers – local specialties that could transform his brew. But reinventing coffee isn't as simple as it seems, and the stakes are high because his creation could end up on the menu. Things take a wild turn for Kashi's newest implant after a brief encounter with a mysterious woman in red ends up in a lesson in local traditions, but also public humiliation.

More from The Taste of Kashi:

Episode 1: A Mystery Brews