The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Old Beijing Douzhi'er - Deep Travel Experiences in Beijing

The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Old Beijing Douzhi’er

All the things you need to know before you want to have a try! Truly Local, Truly Old Beijng!

1. First Things First: What Exactly Is Douzhi'er?

Douzhi‘er is a traditional Beijing drink made from fermented mung beans. After mung beans are ground and filtered for starch, the remaining liquid is naturally fermented and turned into douzhi’er.

Douzhi’er has a gray-green color and a sour, fermented aroma. It’s not mung bean milk or soy milk.

It’s loved by old Beijingers. But for first-timers, the flavor can be a real shock — so stay open-minded and start with small sips.

There’s a funny thing, after a few sips, some one even get addicted.

Actually, it’s very nutritious, rich in protein, fiber, and vitamin C, and great for digestion.

2. The Key Difference: Cooked vs. Raw Douzhi'er

There are two versions: cooked and raw.

Cooked Douzhi'er 熟豆汁

- Raw douzhi'er boiled until thick and foamy | - Much milder smell | - Thicker, smoother texture | - This is what most visitors try first

Raw Douzhi'er 生豆汁

- - The fermented liquid drunk directly without further cooking | - - Very thin in texture | - Extremely sour with a strong, sharp smell | - - Considered the “hardcore” version

Good to know:

Most breakfast shops and time-honored stores sell cooked douzhi'er. Raw douzhi'er is only available at a few specific places.

3. Classic Pairings: What to Eat with Douzhi'er

Jiaoquan 焦圈 Crispy and savory fried dough rings. Dip them into douzhi’er to soften the texture and balance the sourness — this is considered the soul mate of douzhi’er.
Pickled vegetables Most commonly shredded mustard greens 芥菜丝, lightly seasoned with sesame oil or chili oil. They refresh the palate and balance the fermented flavor.

4. Two Ways to Experience It: Sit Down or Take It To Go

If You Have Time: Eat in the Shop

Sit down at a traditional breakfast shop and order: 1. A bowl of hot, freshly cooked douzhi'er. 2. Jiaoquan (焦圈, crispy fried dough rings). 3. A small plate of pickled vegetables. This is the most authentic way to experience douzhi'er — slowly drinking it while watching local Beijingers enjoy their everyday breakfast.

If You're Short on Time: Bottled Douzhi'er

Many well-known douzhi'er shops sell bottled cooked douzhi'er to take away. Some also offer packaged jiaoquan and pickles. Perfect if you want to try it quickly while sightseeing.

5. How to Drink Douzhi'er the Right Way

Eating in the Shop

Start with small sips, don’t rush.
Follow the rhythm: sip douzhi’er → bite jiaoquan → taste pickles
Repeat — this balance makes the flavor much easier to enjoy.

Bottled Version

Shake well before drinking
In winter, some shops sell it warm — warm douzhi’er tastes much milder than cold
Best consumed the same day

6. Where to Try Douzhi'er (Local Recommendations)

Time-Honored Chains (Easy to Find)

Yinsan Douzhi’er 尹三豆汁
Huguosi Snacks 护国寺小吃
Lao Ciqikou Douzhi’er Shop 老磁器口豆汁店

These brands have many branches across Beijing. Simply search their Chinese names on local map apps to find the closest one.

Special:

Yinsan Douzhi'er – Temple of Heaven Branch 尹三豆汁（天坛店）

A small, unassuming shop with a big reputation
Featured in the Michelin Guide (Bib Gourmand) for many consecutive years
Opening hours: 5:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Located very close to the landmark Temple of Heaven（天坛）, perfect for a morning visit

Yinsan Douzhi'er 尹三豆汁 also operates many street stalls around popular tourist areas.

Coco's Personal Favorite (For Adventurers)

Baoji Douzhi’er Shop 清真牛街宝记豆汁店

Famous for offering both cooked and raw douzhi’er
The raw version here is especially bold and authentic
Takeaway only, no seating

Address: No. 27 Shuru Hutong, Xicheng District

北京市西城区输入胡同27号(Niujie Metro Station 牛街地铁站, Exit D2, 470m walk)

Find the blue signboard with white Chinese characters.

Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM Go early — it often sells out.

Bonus Food Tip: Niujie(牛街), where Baoji is located, is one of Beijing’s most famous food areas. You’ll find:

Famous copper hotpot restaurants like Jubao Yuan 聚宝源
Bai Ji Rice Cakes 白记年糕
Hong Ji Steamed Buns 洪记包子
Man Ji Sesame Cakes 满记烧饼

If you see locals lining up, just follow the line — you won’t go wrong.

Another Option

Ya’er Li Ji Restaurant – Beixinqiao Branch 鸦儿李记小馆（北新桥店）

Offers both cooked and raw douzhi’er. It’s also a good choice for visitors who want to compare both versions.

Address:

94 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District

北京市东城区雍和宫大街94号

(Beixinqiao Metro Station x北新桥地铁站, Exit B)

7. Useful Chinese Phrases for Ordering Douzhi'er

一份熟豆汁 One serving cooked douzhi’er
一份生豆汁 One serving of raw douzhi’er
一份熟豆汁加一份生豆汁 One cooked douzhi’er and one raw douzhi’er
一份豆汁焦圈咸菜套餐 Douzhi’er set with fried dough rings and pickles
在这里吃 Eat here / Dine in
打包带走 Take away / To go

Final Tip

You can hardly find douzhi’er outside Beijing.

So whether you sit down for a full breakfast or grab a bottle on the go — trying douzhi’er is a true Beijing experience.

And if you don’t enjoy the flavor, that’s completely normal — many Chinese people don’t love it either. But even so, it’s still a unique and meaningful part of Old Beijing food culture, and absolutely worth experiencing at least once.