China's Qingdao makes waves with 'weird tasting' water

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02:48

In east China's Qingdao – the host city for the 18th summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) this June – there is a family-run business that exports mineral water all over the world.

It’s attracting a big following on social media, but not for the reasons you might think.

Spring in the hills

In the mountains high above the city sits the Qingdao Laoshan Mineral Water Company.

The firm makes colas and sodas using 300,000 tons of water per year.

But it’s the Oldenlandia Mineral Water that attracts all the attention. In Chinese, the beverage is called "Laoshan Bai Hua She Cao Shui."

A can of the mineral water "Laoshan Bai Hua She Cao Shui" /Gif via social media

We saw a production line that has been turning since 1998 and is capable of producing 10,000 bottles every hour.

Pungent herb gives unique taste

The mineral water is made from a pungent herb, which gives it a very specific taste – and legend has it there’s a snake involved indeed.

The manager of technology in the company, Zhang Ming told CGTN more, “It is said the snake likes to lick the dew from the herb, and the leaf of the herb looks like a snake's tongue – that’s why the herb is called Bai Hua She Cao [with She literally meaning snake, and Cao the herb] – which is where the drink gets its name.”

Though it can’t be proved scientifically, based on Chinese traditional medical theory, drinking the water can clear toxins from the body, nourish the stomach and liver and it’s good for hangovers.

The Laoshan company exports the mineral water from Qingdao to all over the world. And when they do, they’re careful about what words they use because here’s the thing – without being too rude about it – some people on social media say the water tastes foul – like human sweat. Some have even described the flavor as something that could wreck friendship, as a joke of course.

"Laoshan Bai Hua She Cao Shui" is named the water of friendship by a beverage shop in south China's Guangzhou as a marketing strategy /VCG Photo

But Zhu Yuhua, the overseas sales manager, told CGTN she understands that the water is not for everyone, “the taste of our water is unique – it might be hard for people to accept but that is how we make it different. The unique taste is from the pungent herb. It doesn’t taste bad – it’s just different.”

What does it really taste like?

But at the Laoshan Mineral Water company they’re boxing clever.

They know the more their product is talked about online – the more people can’t resist trying it, and that drives sales.

I tried the water on behalf of CGTN viewers and, to my surprise, it was NOT as foul tasting as everyone had been telling me it would be – in fact I quite liked it!

It’s a bit salty maybe, but not so bad after all.

Though if I had a choice between the mineral water and Qingdao’s another big export Tsing Tao Beer, I’d probably stick to the beer.