Introduction:Manner recently launched two new beverages — Qing Tangli (Green Tonic) and Beiyangyang Orange Americano — which quickly sparked heated discussions within the coffee enthusiast community. Among them, Qing Tangli features tonic water paired with matcha syrup, presenting an eye-catching layered visual effect. However, its flavor was criticized by many consumers as overly sour and bitter. Meanwhile, the Beiyangyang Orange Americano was noted for tasting similar to existing iced orange Americanos, and was deemed lacking in originality. This article will delve into the preparation methods, actual flavor profiles of these two new products, as well as the market insights behind consumer feedback.
Manner recently rolled out two new drinks — Qing Tangli and Beiyangyang Orange Americano — quietly hoping to inject fresh energy into the brand. Unexpectedly, they stirred up lively discussions and even skepticism among consumers and coffee aficionados. Although these two new items each boast distinctive visuals, their actual drinking experiences fell short of expectations, leaving some loyal customers disappointed.
The first to debut is Qing Tangli, a creative beverage that combines tonic water with pre-prepared matcha syrup. According to on-site customer reports, baristas only need to pour a sufficient amount of tonic water into a clear takeaway cup, then slowly layer in a portion of matcha syrup to complete the drink. Its layered presentation is refreshing and visually appealing, attracting many to immediately take photos and share them on social media platforms. However, when consumers actually put the straw in and take a sip, they often frown — the sour and bitter taste forms a stark contrast with the appealing appearance.
Many tasters described the texture of Qing Tangli as “both sour and astringent,” with some even comparing it to “the feeling of squeezing onto the subway during rush hour in 42°C heat” — extremely uncomfortable. Some reviews pointed out that tonic water already carries a slight acidity and mild bitterness, and the addition of strong matcha syrup makes the overall flavor even heavier and hard to enjoy. Additionally, some sharp-eyed customers noticed that the production process of this drink is extremely simple — just prepare ice, tonic water, and matcha syrup — making it easy to replicate at home, thereby reducing the uniqueness of it as a brand-new offering.
As for the other new product, the Beiyangyang Orange Americano, it is made by combining Beiyangyang brand orange soda with a shot of espresso. This combination prompted many consumers familiar with homemade mixes to exclaim “this feels familiar,” since mixing orange soda with espresso at home is not a new practice. For customers who were expecting Manner to deliver innovative flavors or seasonal exclusivity, this beverage not only lacked surprise but was also considered to have a flavor profile highly overlapping with the existing iced orange Americano. The similarity is so striking that some wonder if it’s “the same drink in different packaging.”
A seasoned coffee enthusiast analyzed that Manner’s previous seasonal offerings, such as the Huangpi Tonic series, managed to capture the essence of seasonal fruits and gained favorable responses with their refreshing sparkling flavors. However, this time, both Qing Tangli and Beiyangyang Orange Americano were criticized by many netizens as “merely rearranging existing ingredients,” showing a clear lack of innovation. Some netizens even got creative, jokingly suggesting versions like “Qing Huang Bu Jie Tonic” (“Unconnected Green-Yellow Tonic”), “Qingmei Tonic” (“Green Plum Tonic”), “Qingputao Tonic” (“Green Grape Tonic”), or even “Qingjiang Tonic” (“Green Sauce Tonic”). Based on the current inventory of Manner’s raw materials, they estimated that the brand could actually develop about 33 more similar combination drinks.
In addition, some long-time loyal customers of Manner have expressed disappointment with the brand’s recent new product strategy. They believe that Manner has always been known for stable quality, creativity, and market insight. Although it doesn’t update its menu frequently, each new launch usually sparks discussion and becomes a bestseller. However, this time, not only did the new drinks perform poorly in flavor, they also felt insincere, as if merely combining leftover stock without truly addressing consumers’ expectations for new tastes and innovative experiences.
Overall, although the launch of Qing Tangli and Beiyangyang Orange Americano features distinctive visual presentations, they face challenges in terms of actual flavor and innovation. For consumers, aside from observing whether the brand can adjust its strategy and return to its roots in the future, there is also a stronger hope that Manner can once again deliver truly stunning coffee creations.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
