{"id":2110,"date":"2026-02-06T18:27:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2110"},"modified":"2026-02-06T18:27:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:27:28","slug":"my-chinese-grandpa-drank-this-daily-and-now-i-do-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2110","title":{"rendered":"My Chinese Grandpa Drank This Daily\u2014and Now I Do, Too"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

For as long as I can remember, I\u2019ve preferred my water warm. Not iced or straight from the fridge, but just warm enough to sip slowly. When I was a kid, my mom would heat up a mug of water in the microwave for me to drink before bed, the same way other parents might offer milk or tea. It never felt unusual\u2014it was just how things were done in our house.\n<\/p>\n

That habit traces back further than I do. My Chinese grandfather (who we called Aa-Gung or grandpa in Cantonese) passed away before I was born, so I know him only through stories, but one detail always comes up: He loved his food and drinks piping hot. This was true even though he lived in Bangkok, where the air itself can feel like steam.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

To Aa-Gung\u2014and many members of my mother\u2019s ethnically Chinese family\u2014warm or hot water isn\u2019t a preference so much as a belief. My mama, who is known to knock back scalding cups of coffee, tea, and water without flinching, says that the practice is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine<\/a> (TCM) and is thought to help balance the body\u2019s yin (hot) and yang (cold) equilibrium.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Many believe drinking warm liquids instead of cold ones can also aid digestion and improve circulation. And long before modern plumbing, heating water was also a practical way to make it safer to drink.\n<\/p>\n

The Surprising Rise of Hot Water Culture <\/span> <\/h3>\n

Lately, I\u2019ve noticed hot water having a bit of a moment\u2014popping up on TikTok in a viral trend called \u201cbecoming Chinese<\/a>,\u201d where users jokingly but lovingly embrace everyday habits like squatting or wearing house slippers 24\/7.\u00a0<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019s such a vital part of life in many Asian cultures that hot water is often served instead of iced in restaurants, and some public water dispensers even offer hot, warm, and cold options. Whenever I come across one of those or am poured a mug of hot water with my meal, I feel instantly at home.\n<\/p>\n

Benefits of Drinking Warm Water <\/span> <\/h3>\n
CATHERINE FALLS COMMERCIAL\/GETTY IMAGES<\/span>
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here\u2019s a quick rundown of why warm water is still a go-to in many cultures\u2014and why I still reach for it daily:\n<\/p>\n