Care for some pig-intestine coffee? China cafe's unusual brew goes viral

Would you try coffee flavoured with... pig's intestines?

A cup of java by the name of "pig's intestines coffee" might turn the stomachs of most people, but it has recently gone viral on the internet, becoming the signature crowd-puller at one cafe in China.

According to Chinese publication Cover News, the outrageous-sounding drink is from a coffee shop named Scent of Li Bai, located in Jiangyou, Sichuan.

For some context, the city happens to be the birthplace of famed Tang dynasty poet Li Bai. The region is also well known for its braised pork intestines, which is said to be delicate yet rich in flavour.

So we guess what went through the cafe owner's mind was — why not meld the two flavours?

"Red-braised pork intestine is a popular cuisine in Jiangyou," shop owner Zhang Yu Chi was quoted as saying, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP). He added: "I thought of combining it with coffee to promote both my shop as well as this delicious food of our city."

Yu Chi told Cover News that he'd first introduced the drink last year, but the response was tepid as many found the combination of flavours too bizarre and were afraid to try. However, things soon changed after a video posted by a Chinese netizen introducing the unusual brew went viral earlier this month.

Yu Chi shared that he hopes the quirky concoction, which has since gone through three iterations, will serve to educate tourists of Jiangyou's food and culture.

Photos of the drink show a tall glass half filled with milk and topped with a layer of coffee. A cocktail skewer of the offal placed across the rim adds the finishing touch.

According to Cover News, a key component of the drink comprises 6g of liquid from the braised pig's intestines, mixed in with the coffee.

Yu Chi shared that the overall flavour is salty-sweet, likening it to "salty cheese".

The drink is priced at 32 yuan (S$5.70) and customers have a choice between beginner-level, mid and high. The higher the level, the stronger the taste of the intestines, reported SCMP.

Yu Chi also told Cover News that since the drink went viral, shop sales have quadrupled, with 80 per cent of customers ordering it.

candicecai@asiaone.com

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