Among the everyday Chinese products that are heavily consumed globally, thermos flasks stand out as one of the most impressive. According to Chinese customs data, in the first quarter of 2026, China's exports of thermos flasks and tea reached 5 billion and 2.7 billion RMB respectively, while exports of water kettles and goji berries also reached approximately 200 million RMB, all showing increases compared to the same period the previous year.
 |
| Foreign customers examine Chinese-made thermos flasks at a trade fair. (Photo: CNR) |
The person in charge of a thermos flask export business in Yiwu City said that previously, foreigners mainly bought thermos flasks to carry cold water when exercising outdoors, or to keep coffee hot when going to work. For nearly a year now, many customers have switched to keeping warm water in thermos flasks, like the Chinese do.
Besides drinking warm water, foreign consumers are also curious and interested in the "Eastern health preservation" style: What other unique health preservation methods and products does China offer?
Beck Green, a consumer in New York, USA, after watching a short "Become Chinese" clip trending on TikTok, tried drinking warm water and said that this style transformed her lifestyle into a Chinese one. She also started wearing cheongsams and Mamian dresses in the Chinese style, and even learned how to perform cupping therapy.
Lam Thi Hoa, the owner of an e-commerce store selling gua sha tools and a long-time resident of the United States, has keenly observed the strong curiosity among European and American consumers regarding "Chinese-style beauty treatments": "Chinese people mainly use gua sha tools for detoxification, while foreign consumers mainly use them to reduce facial swelling." On e-commerce platforms, gua sha tools are priced from $5-10, and her stores are among the top sellers, receiving over 10,000 orders per month.
The Financial Times of the UK reports that Chinese manufacturers of gua sha (scraping therapy) say the overseas market is becoming increasingly important. In addition, orders for Chinese products such as hot water bottles are also increasing.
Mr. Rodrygo, a tourist from Portugal in 2025, spent nearly a month traveling in China, during which he participated in traditional Chinese medicine experiences, including cupping, pulse diagnosis, and acupuncture. He said that after the experience, he bought many herbal patches and mugwort bags to take back to Portugal. These products were both unique and beneficial to health, and his family and friends all loved them.
A thermos flask, a gua sha tool, a teapot... the popularity of these products is the result of years of intensive development in overseas markets by Chinese businesses. For example, many consumers are familiar with brands like STANLEY, THERMOS, and YETI when it comes to thermos flasks.
Yongkang City in Zhejiang Province is the largest producer and exporter of thermos flasks in China, accounting for over 70% of the country's annual production and consumption. Many famous thermos flask brands from Europe and America originate from here.
How do Chinese businesses enhance their competitiveness? Innovation is highly valued by many companies. Yao Huajun, Chairman of TOMIC Company, stated: “Indians prefer using copper metal cups, but the high copper ion content can lead to poisoning. We apply an ion-inhibiting layer to the copper surface, preserving the appearance of the copper while maintaining safety during use. Furthermore, many coffee cup lids cannot be removed for washing, leading to the accumulation of coffee grounds and the growth of bacteria over time. We designed a ‘one pull, one pry’ mechanism that allows for easy removal and washing, solving the problem of cleaning the cup lids. This design has even been granted a global patent.”
Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/xu-huong-duong-sinh-kieu-trung-quoc-221765.html
Comment (0)