Recently, a new wave of cold air has swept across the country, leading to a drop in temperatures in many areas after the "frost descent" period. Various "heartwarming snacks" have become increasingly popular on the streets, with long lines forming at roasted chestnut stalls and the bright red candied hawthorns sparkling under the lights. Many passersby can also be seen holding cups of hot beverages—autumn and winter's "warm economy" is continuing to heat up.

During visits to tea shops in subway stations, office buildings, and shopping malls, it was observed that sales of hot drinks from various brands have clearly increased. 「When it’s cold, you just want to hold a cup of hot drink; it warms your hands and makes you feel secure,」 said Ms. Zhang, a local resident who had just purchased a hot beverage outside a CHABAIDAO shop in a business district in Beijing's Chaoyang area.

A representative from CHABAIDAO (02555) revealed that the demand for hot drinks emphasizing "rich flavors" has surged recently. Their newly launched 「Cake Milk Tea」 exceeded sales of 350,000 cups on its first day, becoming a popular choice among consumers particularly in northern cities like Beijing and Tianjin, where temperatures have dropped significantly.

The 「Cake Milk Tea」 series is based on the concept of "cake in a cup," inspired by French crème brûlée and soft cheese cake. For example, their 「Mousse Pudding Pearl Milk Tea」 is made with freshly brewed pudding and pearls each day, complemented by Anchor cream from New Zealand pastures and Madagascar vanilla pods. The drink also contains small specks of vanilla seeds, providing consumers with a beverage experience that has a more layered taste.

「‘Warm economy’ is fundamentally a dual consumption of ‘temperature + emotion’,」 pointed out Zhu Danpeng, a food industry analyst. From roasted chestnuts to hot milk tea, consumers are purchasing not just items for warmth, but also an immediate warm experience; this "emotional value" is becoming a key driver of consumption in the autumn and winter seasons.