Milk tea: the secret of human obsession
Hi everyone, I’m your oppa from outer space! Lately, Chloe has been taking me on a whirlwind tour of Earth-inspired drinks, and the one I’m most addicted to is milk tea! Especially the soft, sweet taro paste inside—it’s simply irresistible!!
I noticed Chloe always takes a photo before drinking milk tea, saying things like “Drink my phone first” or “First milk tea of autumn.” She explained to me that milk tea isn’t just a drink, it’s a part of human life. What is the magic of milk tea……
Milk tea🥤
Milk tea, a new-style tea beverage, combines traditional tea culture with modern consumer trends. Made with fresh tea leaves, fresh milk, and various toppings and concentrates.
Its origins date back to the Sui and Tang dynasties in China, with the Song Dynasty’s “Tea-Horse Trade” further promoting tea culture. During the Yuan Dynasty, Mongolian butter tea not only provided warmth and protection from the cold, but also aided digestion and skin care, making it a veritable “functional drink” of ancient times.
Today, milk tea, while incorporating creativity and trends into its traditional approach, has become a favorite among young people, particularly Generation Z.
Why are humans so obsessed with milk tea?
There is a “happiness switch” hidden in the human brain, and milk tea can trigger this switch. The key to this switch is the neurotransmitter dopamine. When smooth milk tea enters the mouth, neurons in specific areas of the brain are activated, dopamine is released, and people become happy. Therefore, milk tea allows people to obtain instant pleasure.
At the same time, milk tea combines the rich layers of tea fragrance, milk alcohol, and ingredients, making the taste progressive, satisfying people’s dual pursuit of sweetness and taste.
1.Milk tea as an instant sensory experience🍁
2.Milk tea as social currency🍓
Milk tea is affordable, costing between 15 and 30 yuan. It doesn’t put pressure on people like expensive gifts, but it accurately conveys friendship and thoughtfulness, making it the perfect medium for “light socializing.” In many situations, milk tea brings people closer together and helps break the ice.
Here, I’ll list a few scenarios for your convenience!😊
Friends treat each other to milk tea and take photos to share, making milk tea a small ritual to maintain relationships.
New employees are invited to drink milk tea to quickly break the unfamiliarity and integrate into the team.
Family, lovers, and friends express their care and enhance their relationship by sending milk tea at specific times, such as “the first cup of milk tea in autumn.”
3.Milk tea as a ritual of life🍦
Beyond its direct sensory enjoyment and social function, I’ve discovered that milk tea also serves as a psychological regulator. Many people have internalized it as a ritual and affordable self-reward.
Daily rituals:
Before embarking on a demanding workday, buying a cup of milk tea signals the start of the upcoming struggle; ordering a cup on Friday afternoon marks the official start of the weekend. This fixed behavior injects anticipation and structure into the mundane daily routine.
Micro-rewards:
After completing a task, humans often reward themselves with a cup of milk tea. Unlike a trip or a luxury item, which is expensive and far-flung, it is an easily achievable and immediate “sweet treat” that effectively relieves stress and provides immediate feedback for positive behavior.
Milk tea is more than just a drink, it’s a mood regulator, a social lubricant, and one of the little joys of modern life. It’s no wonder people say, “There’s nothing a cup of milk tea can’t solve. If there is, two cups is enough.”
👽As an alien who is a fan of milk tea, I also want to share my private collection list:
⸜❤︎⸝TOP1: Mung Bean Milk Ice
A must drink in summer!🌞Makes you happy all day long!
⸜❤︎⸝TOP2: Fresh Milk Bamboo Fragrance Oolong
It seems like drinking bamboo！🍃
⸜❤︎⸝TOP3: Jasmine Grapes
So refreshing! A combination of fruit, tea and floral scents！🍇
Do you have any other milk tea recommendations? Please share with me!😄