Introduction:A café in Shanghai recently launched a special drink priced at 80 RMB that claims to have the flavor of salmon sushi, yet contains no fish whatsoever. Instead, it uses oat milk, wasabi sauce, and an avocado whipped cream topping to mimic the texture and taste of traditional sushi, paired with a specially made "coffee soy sauce." This has sparked intense online discussion. This article breaks down the actual recipe, flavor profile, and the reasons behind the polarized public reactions, helping readers understand both the creativity and the real-world execution of this unusual beverage.

What happens when classic Japanese salmon sushi meets coffee? A café in Shanghai recently introduced a special drink called “Salmon Sushi Flavor,” priced at 80 RMB, yet completely devoid of any salmon. The drink innovatively simulates the visual and taste experience of traditional sushi and quickly became a hot topic online.

According to the café’s founder, the inspiration for this special drink came from traditional wasabi salmon sushi, but no fish products were used in its creation. The base is made with oat milk mixed with a small amount of wasabi sauce to replicate the texture and mildly spicy flavor of sushi rice. Meanwhile, the thick layer of avocado whipped cream on top is designed to mimic the smooth texture and vivid color of salmon. The overall presentation creates a “liquid sushi” effect in both look and feel.

As for what customers usually associate with “soy sauce,” it is actually made by removing some of the oils from espresso concentrate, then mixing in wasabi sauce and a small amount of sugar. This specially crafted “soy sauce” attempts to recreate the flavor characteristics of traditional Japanese sushi soy sauce in both appearance and taste. Customers can choose to enjoy the drink and this special sauce separately to experience a unique liquid sushi flavor, or mix them together to create a distinctive coffee-based beverage.

After its launch, the drink received mixed reactions on social media. Some users were impressed by its creativity, noting that although the name sounded unusual, the actual flavor had surprising depth—especially the creamy avocado topping and rich oat milk, which provided a pleasant overall mouthfeel. Other consumers who tried it said that even without real salmon, the balance of flavors was decent, making it a creative special drink worth trying.

However, many others expressed skepticism or even distaste. Some bluntly stated, “This isn’t coffee, it’s just a weird kind of soup,” while others joked, “Add some beer and you could offend Germany, Italy, and Japan all at once—name the special drink the Anti-Fascist Alliance.” More users were concerned about paying 80 RMB without getting the expected combination of fish and coffee, suggesting it would be more cost-effective and authentic to buy coffee and salmon sashimi separately and pair them themselves.

It’s worth noting that this special drink does not take the simplistic approach of putting raw fish directly into coffee. Instead, it combines various ingredients and seasonings to try to recreate the overall flavor experience of sushi. For adventurous eaters, this drink offers a unique flavor adventure; however, for traditional coffee lovers or Japanese cuisine enthusiasts, it may take more courage to accept such a cross-category combination.

Experts point out that the success of such creative specials depends not only on the clever pairing of ingredients, but also on consumers’ acceptance of “cross-boundary fusion.” From a technical standpoint, this special drink does demonstrate a certain level of innovative thinking in mimicking traditional sushi flavors, but there is still room for discussion regarding the match between its price and actual content.

In summary, this 80 RMB salmon sushi flavor special drink contains no fish, but through the combination of oat milk, wasabi sauce, avocado whipped cream, and a specially made coffee soy sauce, it attempts to create a brand-new liquid sushi experience. Whether you’re an adventurer eager to try novel flavors or a consumer who prefers traditional coffee and Japanese cuisine, this special drink provides a thought-provoking case in flavor experimentation.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.