What do Chinese drink before eating?
Mia Moss
Published Jan 08, 2026
Tea is China's most popular beverage. Chinese people drink green unfermented tea, taken hot without milk or sugar, with meals and snacks and on its own throughout the day. Today, they use mugs with lids and handles, but up until this century tea was always drunk from small bowls.
Why do Chinese people drink tea before eating?
Eases digestion:It eases off the mucus accumulation and helps in breaking down the food better. As a result, you can expect your meal to digest faster and smoother.