Introduction:The chain coffee brand Nowwa collaborated with the fish mint syrup brand Jindi to launch a highly controversial Fish Mint Americano. This creative specialty drink, which incorporates the Chinese herbal ingredient fish mint (commonly known as "wood ear root") into coffee, has sparked intense discussion among consumers. Is this beverage a genuine flavor experience or purely a gimmick? This article delves into its actual taste, customer feedback, and includes expert advice from the brand, helping readers fully understand the uniqueness of this specialty coffee.
In recent years, the coffee market has seen endless creativity, but infusing fish mint—also known as the well-known wood ear root—into an Americano has still surprised many. The chain coffee brand Nowwa recently teamed up with fish mint syrup brand Jindi to launch a specialty drink called the "Fish Mint Americano," which quickly ignited heated discussions on social platforms.
Fish mint is a popular ingredient in southwestern China, but for most people, its distinctive fishy aroma and slightly bitter yet sweet aftertaste often make them recoil. This time, Nowwa has combined this highly controversial herb with the classic Americano, pushing the boundaries of the public’s taste buds.
It is understood that this specialty drink does not contain compound fish mint syrup or other medicinal ingredients, but simply adds fresh chopped fish mint leaves and lemon slices to the Americano.
Visually, this drink doesn’t look much different from a regular Americano, but upon closer inspection, you can spot some green specks floating in the cup—these are the chopped fish mint leaves.
Many netizens who tried it reported that although fish mint wasn’t added in powdered form, its unique herbal aroma still seeped into the coffee liquid after steeping for a long time, resulting in a pungent scent that’s hard to ignore. The drinking experience was extremely polarizing: some took one sip and found it “unbearable,” describing it as “like an Italian seeing pineapple on pizza”; however, fans of wood ear root praised it enthusiastically, even fishing out the fish mint bits settled at the bottom of the cup to savor them carefully.
Some tasters said, “One sip of this and you might need to be carried out,” or “This should be one of the top ten tortures in the beverage world,” showing that for consumers unaccustomed to the taste of fish mint, this specialty drink is indeed quite a challenge. However, many wood ear root enthusiasts gave positive feedback on this uniquely flavored coffee, calling it “addictive” and “memorable.” Some even claimed that flu patients felt the herbal notes of fish mint seemed to help soothe throat discomfort to some extent, and when paired with the caffeine boost, it left them feeling revitalized.
From a technical perspective, the inherent characteristics of fish mint are central to the flavor profile of this drink. Fish mint contains volatile aromatic compounds that, when in contact with hot coffee, release a strong herbal aroma, thereby affecting the overall flavor balance. For first-time tasters, it is recommended to take small sips first to gauge your tolerance to the herbal scent before deciding whether to continue enjoying it.
The brand also specifically reminds customers that although fish mint is a natural herb, it also possesses certain medicinal properties. Pregnant women, children, or those sensitive to herbal scents are advised to try it with caution to avoid potential discomfort out of curiosity. Additionally, due to fish mint’s strong odor, it is recommended to store it properly after opening or consuming to prevent lingering smells from affecting other foods or beverages.
Overall, this Fish Mint Americano is a bold cross-industry experiment. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of wood ear root or someone who avoids it at all costs, it’s worth exploring as a reflection of the contemporary coffee market’s quest to innovate and challenge flavor boundaries. For coffee enthusiasts who love trying new things, this could be a great opportunity to see how non-traditional ingredients are integrated into coffee culture.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
