Introduction:Hong Kong celebrity Nicholas Tse has opened a new “Forkiss” coffee shop in Zhengzhou, combining agricultural support initiatives with cultural experiences. In addition to serving coffee and light meals, the store also showcases specialty agricultural products and intangible cultural heritage crafts from regions such as Yunnan and Hebei. This article delves into the unique features of the shop, its coffee offerings, and fans’ diverse expectations regarding agricultural support and concerts.
It’s not uncommon for celebrities to venture into the coffee market, but Hong Kong celebrity Nicholas Tse’s recent launch of the “Forkiss” coffee shop in Zhengzhou, Henan, has taken a distinctly different approach. This branch, located in Zhengzhou, is a collaboration between Tse’s food brand “Forkiss” and “Xinhua Youpin,” a subsidiary of Xinhua News Agency. In addition to offering standard coffee beverages and light meal options, the shop features a special section dedicated to showcasing agricultural support products and cultural heritage, allowing customers to explore China’s regional specialties and intangible cultural traditions while enjoying their coffee.
According to reports, the coffee shop officially debuted in Zhengzhou on October 9. Menu items leaked on social media platforms show that the main coffee offerings are priced between 18 and 30 yuan, placing them in the mid-range category suitable for everyday consumption. The beverage selection includes classic espresso drinks, pour over options, as well as some creative specialty drinks, catering to a variety of coffee preferences.
Although many fans visited the shop eager to try a high-quality coffee endorsed by a famous celebrity, most found the actual coffee experience to be fairly average — the beans lacked prominent aroma, and the overall vibe was more that of a comprehensive agricultural support and cultural experience hub. One customer commented, “The taste is a bit average, the beans don’t have a very strong aroma.” For coffee enthusiasts accustomed to high-quality extraction or those seeking distinct flavor profiles, this might lead to some disappointment.
However, what sets this shop apart is its rich emphasis on agricultural support and cultural elements. While enjoying coffee and light meals, customers can also purchase a range of agricultural support products including Yunnan Menglian coffee, Hebei Wuqiao roast chicken, and Inner Mongolian oatmeal. These products are not only locally distinctive, but some are even directly used as ingredients in the shop’s own food and beverages, reinforcing the connection from origin to table. Additionally, the store’s dedicated experience area sells exquisitely crafted handicrafts made using intangible traditional techniques, as well as branded cultural merchandise, engaging visitors through visual, taste, and tactile experiences to highlight the depth and diversity of traditional Chinese culture.
Notably, “Xinhua Youpin,” as an important initiative by Xinhua News Agency to promote “rural revitalization,” has long been committed to helping local agricultural products expand their markets. Since its establishment in 2015, the “Forkiss” brand has also actively engaged in agricultural support collaborations. The two parties signed a strategic cooperation agreement as early as August 2022 to jointly create the “Xinhua Youpin x Forkiss” co-branded brand. The opening of the Zhengzhou coffee shop is seen as a significant step in extending their agricultural support philosophy into an offline physical space.
As previous co-branded products were mainly sold via e-commerce platforms with relatively limited public recognition, industry insiders speculate that the establishment of a physical coffee shop will allow more consumers to personally experience and learn about these high-quality agricultural products from various regions, thereby increasing brand exposure and market accessibility.
However, for consumers, the positioning of this shop seems to lean more towards agricultural support and cultural promotion, rather than a focus on the quality of the coffee itself or its brewing techniques. Some fans who visited just for the experience admitted that if judged by the standards of a purely coffee-oriented café, the coffee here doesn’t stand out, resembling more of a composite experience space that combines agricultural support products and cultural displays.
Opinions on this concept are divided online. Supporters argue that Nicholas Tse’s choice to focus on agricultural support gives each cup of coffee deeper social significance, while also providing emotional value and resonance for consumers. They suggest promoting more socially responsible coffee shops of this kind across the country. On the other hand, many long-time fans have remarked: “Why not hold more concerts?” or “Has he forgotten his main job? Can someone tell him to come out and do a concert?” Others humorously suggest that Tse could take a page from his peers by setting up coffee carts near concert venues, selling coffee while performing to achieve a win-win of entertainment and agricultural support.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
