Local Drinks

1. 黃酒

   waon6 cieu5

   Huangjiu (yellow rice wine)

   Usage

   A brewed rice wine of the Jiangnan region, drunk warm and used in cooking

2. 紹興酒

   zau6 shin1 cieu5

   Shaoxing wine

   Usage

   Huangjiu from Shaoxing in Zhejiang, a standard at Shanghai restaurants

   Grammar Note

   紹興酒 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

3. 老酒

   lau6 cieu5

   Laojiu (rice wine, aged liquor)

   Usage

   In Shanghainese it can mean rice wine or alcoholic drink in general

4. 白酒

   baq8 cieu5

   Baijiu (distilled liquor)

   Usage

   A strong distilled grain liquor, often drunk for toasts

5. 啤酒

   bi6 cieu5

   Beer

   Usage

   Beer, commonly drunk with meals

6. 龍井茶

   lon6 cin5 zo6

   Longjing tea

   Usage

   Green tea from Hangzhou, widely drunk in Shanghai teahouses

   Grammar Note

   龍井茶 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

7. 碧螺春

   piq7 lu6 tshen1

   Biluochun tea

   Usage

   Green tea from Suzhou with a floral scent

   Grammar Note

   碧螺春 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

8. 茉莉花茶

   meq8 li6 ho1 zo6

   Jasmine tea

   Usage

   Tea scented with jasmine flowers

   Grammar Note

   茉莉花茶 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

9. 紅茶

   ghon6 zo6

   Black tea

   Usage

   Black tea; Chinese names it for the red colour of the brew

10. 花茶

    ho1 zo6

    Flower tea

    Usage

    Tea scented or made with flowers

11. 吃茶

    chiq7 zo6

    Have tea

    Usage

    Shanghainese uses 吃 "eat" for drinking tea

    Grammar Note

    Shanghainese uses 吃 for drinking as well as eating.

12. 豆漿

    deu6 cian1

    Soy milk

    Usage

    A breakfast drink, often with fried dough sticks or flatbread

13. 咖啡

    kha1 fi1

    Coffee

    Usage

    Shanghai has many cafés; used to order at a coffee shop

    Grammar Note

    咖啡 is a loanword from English "coffee"; Shanghainese reads it kha1 fi1.

14. 奶茶

    na6 zo6

    Milk tea

    Usage

    Tea with milk, often sold with tapioca pearls

15. 汽水

    chi5 sy5

    Soft drink (fizzy drink)

    Usage

    A fizzy soft drink

16. 酸梅湯

    soe1 me6 thaon1

    Suanmeitang (sour plum drink)

    Usage

    A sweet-sour cold drink made from smoked plums, popular in summer

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