When you think of Chinese tea, ice cream may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
But in Beijing, one of the city’s most popular local snacks is served in a cone.
Wuyutai is a historic Beijing tea brand founded in 1887. It is especially famous for jasmine tea, a drink that has been part of everyday life in Beijing for generations. Today, the old tea shop has found a playful new way to share its tea culture: freshly served tea-flavored soft ice cream.
It is traditional, modern, very Beijing — and genuinely delicious.
Two Flavors, One Difficult Choice
Wuyutai’s soft ice cream usually comes in two flavors:
Jasmine Tea
Light, floral, creamy, and refreshing. You can clearly taste the fragrance of jasmine tea, but it is not too sweet or overpowering.
Matcha
Richer and slightly more intense, with a smooth green tea flavor and a gentle bitterness.
Both are freshly swirled into a cone by the staff and cost RMB 10 each at the time of our visit.
My personal favorite is the jasmine tea flavor.
Matcha ice cream can now be found in many cities, but jasmine tea feels much more connected to Beijing. For generations of local families, a warm cup of jasmine tea has been part of daily life. Turning that familiar fragrance into soft ice cream makes the experience feel both nostalgic and completely new.
Why You Should Try It
Tea is one of the most recognizable parts of Chinese culture, but you do not always need to visit a formal teahouse to experience it.
Sometimes, Chinese tea culture can be as simple as standing outside an old shop, holding an ice cream cone, and tasting jasmine in the middle of a busy Beijing street.
That is what makes Wuyutai ice cream such a fun stop for travelers. It is inexpensive, easy to try, and different from an ordinary dessert. Behind the ice cream is also the story of a Beijing brand that has survived for more than a century while continuing to create something new.
You can find Wuyutai shops around Beijing, although ice cream availability may vary between branches. Larger branches in popular areas are usually the easiest places to look.
See It Before You Taste It
Curious about the texture, the colors, and which flavor we chose?
Then add it to your Beijing food list and tell us which one you would choose: jasmine tea or matcha?
CocoMolly Tip
Try the jasmine tea flavor first.
It is creamy but still refreshing, with a gentle floral aroma that stays in your mouth after the first bite. It is not just an ice cream flavor — it is a small taste of Beijing tea culture in a cone.
