Introduction:Heytea expanded its store-exclusive citrus pu’er drink “Zhizhi Ganpu” from its original Jiangbianli flagship store to all nationwide outlets, combining Xinhui small green tangerines, Yunnan ripe pu’er tea, and dried tangerine peel powder to create a layered citrus pu’er tea base, paired with its classic whipped cream topping. However, this regionally distinctive beverage sparked polarized reactions after its national launch, especially among customers outside its place of origin. This article delves into the ingredients, product background, and real user experiences from across the country to help you decide whether this buzzworthy drink is worth trying.
Heytea recently made its formerly store-limited “Zhizhi Ganpu” available at all nationwide outlets, along with a buy-one-get-one-free promotion that attracted many customers eager to give it a try. The drink features a base made from small green tangerines grown in Xinhui, Jiangmen, and Yunnan ripe pu’er tea, blended with dried tangerine peel powder to brew a tea with aged aroma, then topped with Heytea’s signature whipped cream topping, resulting in a rich and multi-layered flavor profile.
As an exclusive product of the Jiangbianli flagship store, Zhizhi Ganpu had already become a must-try beverage for visitors, thanks to its unique regional flavors and limited availability. Especially during peak travel seasons like National Day and Labor Day, many tourists specifically visited the flagship store just to try this innovative tea drink that blends local characteristics. However, due to its location and long queues during holidays, many customers hoped that a national release would reduce travel hassle and ease the production pressure at the original store.
In response to market demand, Heytea decided to promote Zhizhi Ganpu nationwide and used promotional activities to boost sales. However, as the drink became available at various outlets, social media quickly saw a surge of consumer reviews showing clear polarization in taste preferences. Especially for those unfamiliar with citrus pu’er or dried tangerine peel flavors, the taste experience of this drink often came as a surprise.
According to the official ingredient list, the tea base of Zhizhi Ganpu is made by scenting Xinhui small green tangerines with Yunnan ripe pu’er tea, with additional powdered dried tangerine peel from Xinhui added to create a deep, herbal-scented citrus pu’er tea. For consumers in Guangdong familiar with dried tangerine peel and citrus pu’er drinks, this beverage not only tastes familiar but also showcases the essence of local tea culture, earning it considerable praise and recommendations.
However, for customers outside the region who encounter green tangerine pu’er and Xinhui dried tangerine peel for the first time, this drink can often deliver a quite shocking taste experience. Some netizens described the first sip as “like a sentient dried tangerine peel slapping my mouth,” while others compared it to “herbal tea with whipped cream,” a “kaleidoscope of flavors,” or even said “every sip feels like drinking Chinese medicine,” with the tea base reminiscent of guilinggao (a traditional herbal jelly), making it hard to adjust to. Many initially thought it was similar to something like Eastern Leaf Tea, but once the dried tangerine peel powder mixed with the whipped cream, the overall flavor strongly evoked traditional Chinese herbal sachets, creating a significant gap between expectations and reality.
Faced with the sharply divided online reviews, many netizens joked that this is “a highly regional drink,” pointing out its obvious limitations in broad acceptance. The so-called “internet prophets” further noted that the unique flavor of Heytea’s Zhizhi Ganpu isn’t suited for the mass market—“those who like it will be obsessed, wanting it every day; but those who don’t, will stay away after just one try.” This extreme reaction also highlights the challenges regional specialty ingredients may face when promoted across different areas.
Overall, Heytea’s Zhizhi Ganpu is a highly distinctive and innovative tea drink, combining the freshness of small green tangerines, the richness of pu’er tea, and the unique herbal aroma of dried tangerine peel powder, with the creamy texture enhanced by the whipped cream topping. However, before trying it, consumers should understand its flavor profile, especially those unfamiliar with southern Chinese tea culture or dried tangerine peel flavors. It’s recommended to check local reviews or sample a small version first to see if it suits your personal taste preferences.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
