Traditional Chinese medicine holds that hot water balances your body's qi and helps digestion. In Chinese culture, people believe cold water disrupts your body's balance and can leave you feeling uncomfortable, especially in winter or after eating.

Most Chinese people keep this habit even when they live abroad. And there's actually something to it — warm water aids digestion and soothes sore throats, so you get real benefits beyond just following tradition.

Search keyword: "Chinese thermos hot water" on Unsplash

Search keyword: "Chinese restaurant hot tea" on Unsplash

If you're not familiar with Chinese medicine, you might be wondering: what exactly is qi (pronounced "chi")?

Qi is the core concept in traditional Chinese medicine. In simple terms:

Good health comes from having "balanced qi and blood." Very cold drinks are believed to throw this balance off — they cool down your digestive system and slow it down.

The habit also came from practical necessity. Before modern water treatment, boiling water was the easiest way to kill bacteria. After generations of drinking it hot, hot water just became the default for "safe and healthy."

What's funny is that modern science is starting to catch up to this idea: warm water does improve blood circulation, help digestion, and relax your muscles. That's why so many people outside China are picking up this habit now as part of the "Becoming Chinese" trend.