Heytea Just Put 341-Year-Old Yunnan Sweet Soy Sauce in Milk Tea 🤯

Heytea has never been shy about stirring the pot, but its newest creation might just be the boldest yet. The chain rolled out a drink built on Suiyinzi 碎银子, a glutinous-flavored tea base, topped with Jiangxiang Yunding 酱香云顶 — a whipped mix of milk, butter, and Tuodong sweet soy sauce. 🍶🧈🥤

Tuodong is a heritage brand from Yunnan, and its sweet soy sauce isn’t just any condiment. The recipe has over 341 years of history, dating back to the Qing Dynasty in 1684, and is officially recognized as part of Yunnan’s intangible cultural heritage. Usually found drizzled over noodles and rice, it’s now making its surprise debut in bubble tea — giving the drink a sweet-meets-umami kick that’s creamy, savory, and a little chaotic. Add in seaweed sprinkles or dip soda crackers into the foam, and suddenly your afternoon tea feels like a full snack platter. 🍵✨

Reactions online are a mix of shock and intrigue. Some joked that “butter + soy + milk tea is giving gourmet chaos,” while others admitted they were “not brave enough to try, but 10/10 for creativity.” One customer on Heytea’s official WeChat summed it up neatly: “I don’t usually order the regular stuff, but when it’s this unusual, I have to try the taste.” 👀

Love it or hate it, Heytea once again brewed up the perfect recipe for buzz.