I have never met someone raised outside of Asia that has ordered a glass of hot water to drink as-is. I have no idea why this habit is so wide spread among people raised in Asia and it baffles me.
I haven’t heard of it, but I guess it makes sense. Like, it’s not uncommon in the US to drink hot coffee in the morning when it’s cold out if you’re camping or in an outdoors environment that’s hard to heat up. Delivers a big slug of heat directly to someone. But there’s no real reason that it has to contain caffeine.
I don’t know about Korea or other places, but Japan traditionally didn’t go in for house insulation, aimed to use the kotatsu rather than heating the living space as a whole.
I love that kotatsu idea! That would be such a cozy way to rest in on a cold weekend. This should be a thing everywhere …. But only the electric version. I’m not sticking my feet under a mystery blanket with a charcoal burner somewhere
I have never met someone raised outside of Asia that has ordered a glass of hot water to drink as-is. I have no idea why this habit is so wide spread among people raised in Asia and it baffles me.
I think it’s rooted in a belief that consuming something so cold is bad for the body somehow. Meanwhile I’m sure they eat frozen desserts.
Yes, body dampness. It’s old Chinese medicine and it’s believed cupping helps draw out body dampness. Among other things.
People in China drinking hot water in summer is equivalently weird to Americans drinking ice water in winter.
Some people who like to drink tea after a meal are fine with just sipping hot water if tea isn’t available.
I haven’t heard of it, but I guess it makes sense. Like, it’s not uncommon in the US to drink hot coffee in the morning when it’s cold out if you’re camping or in an outdoors environment that’s hard to heat up. Delivers a big slug of heat directly to someone. But there’s no real reason that it has to contain caffeine.
I don’t know about Korea or other places, but Japan traditionally didn’t go in for house insulation, aimed to use the kotatsu rather than heating the living space as a whole.
I love that kotatsu idea! That would be such a cozy way to rest in on a cold weekend. This should be a thing everywhere …. But only the electric version. I’m not sticking my feet under a mystery blanket with a charcoal burner somewhere