Chinese people traditionally didn't drink much milk mainly due to widespread lactose intolerance, a genetic inability to digest milk sugar, coupled with a traditional diet centered on grains, vegetables, and soy, rather than dairy, and historical scarcity. While many still face digestive issues, a growing minority consumes milk, often processed or as yogurt, as dairy consumption has increased with economic development.
What is really happening is that most Chinese (in fact, most non-white people) have some mild lactose intolerance. It's mild enough that most people are oblivious to it, and warming the milk is enough to make it safe to consume.
Traditional Chinese cuisine rarely uses cheese because dairy wasn't a major part of the historical diet. Many East Asians are lactose intolerant, and Chinese cooking focuses on umami flavors from soy sauce, fermented beans, and meats instead of dairy-based ingredients.
Steph: In China, there are actually areas that also have problems with Vitamin D deficiency because people don't drink enough milk nor do they have seafood.
In one study, 92.3% of the Chinese subjects were identified as “lactose malabsorbers.” Another study found that while only 38.5% of Chinese children ages 3-5 years old were lactase-deficient, 87% of those in the 7-8 year and 11-13 year old groups were.
Lactase nonpersistence is most prevalent in people of East Asian descent, with 70 to 100 percent of people affected in these communities. Lactase nonpersistence is also very common in people of West African, Arab, Jewish, Greek, and Italian descent.
Recent proteomic analyses on human dental calculus from the last 5000 years on the Eastern Steppe have established the presence of ruminant dairy consumption in Mongolia by the Early Bronze Age (c. 3000 BC), likely introduced by incoming Western Steppe migrations.
Soy milk is a common beverage in East Asian cuisines. In Chinese cuisine, "sweet" soy milk is made by adding cane sugar or simple syrup.
Five US dollars (around 35 Chinese Yuan) isn't a lot in China for tourists but is a meaningful amount for daily necessities, buying several street food meals or bus rides, though it won't go far in big cities for luxuries, varying greatly by location and type of purchase.
Global consumption of fluid milk 2024, by country
In 2024, India consumed the most cow milk worldwide, drinking 89 million metric tons. The next largest consumption of milk was in the European Union, at 23.6 million metric tons.
Instead of saying cheese, the Chinese always say Qie Zie or eggplant when posing for a photo.
Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl then add the water and mix well. Pour in the milk and mix until there are no lumps and the batter is smooth. Chop the chicken into small chunks then season and mix well.
Women in China frequently experience body shaming when breastfeeding in public. Many mothers share worries about embarrassing themselves and others on social media. Some women interpret body autonomy as the freedom to give up breastfeeding if they feel unable to physically or mentally sustain it.
80 percent of all African-Americans and Native Americans are lactose intolerant. Over 90 percent of Asian-Americans are lactose intolerant, and it is least common among Americans with a Northern European heritage.
As lactose or milk loading requires ingestion of large amounts of lactose within a short period, this is considered to be too harsh for Japanese people because of their less habitual milk consumption (175 mL per day in average) than Western people.
China's "3-hour rule" for minors restricts children under 18 to playing online video games for only three hours per week, specifically from 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to combat gaming addiction and improve health. Implemented by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) in 2021, the rule mandates gaming companies use real-name verification and facial recognition to enforce limits, though some children bypass it using adult accounts.
Tea has long been synonymous with Chinese culture, steeped in over two thousand years of history and tradition. In 2023, the tea market reached a remarkable US$ 54.2 billion, solidifying its place at the heart of Chinese life.
China is a country of etiquette, and the Book of Han states that "alcohol is paramount among all etiquette". Therefore, drinking culture is very important in China.
For flavorings, there was mustard(Remember, Jesus' parable of the mustard seed in Mark 4:31), and dill, cumin, cinnamon, mint, and salt are also mentioned in the Bible. For drinking, Jesus probably drank water, wine, and milk (from goats and sheep).
Gen Z isn't drinking as much milk due to health concerns (lactose intolerance, acne), ethical/environmental worries about dairy farming, the influence of social media promoting alternatives, increased awareness of dairy's downsides, and a desire for healthier, more personalized options like plant-based milks, though they still enjoy other dairy products like cheese and yogurt. They question traditional health advice and are swayed by peer culture and eco-consciousness, leading them toward alternatives for taste, values, and lifestyle fit.