Garlic coffee creates whiff in rural village

For many, the thought of garlic-infused coffee would turn their stomachs, but a small village cafe in Chengdu, Sichuan province, has dared splice the two unlikely ingredients with surprising results.

Dai Chao, general manager of Chengdu Model Youth Technology Co in Gaoshan village, and one of the masterminds behind the strong-smelling cuppa, said sales of the bulbous brew have spiked in recent days due to several posts online that have attracted the curious.

"It smells like garlic, but it doesn't taste like garlic that much," said Alex Tchaikovsky from Ukraine, who visited Dasuan Coffee recently. "It tastes better than I expected."

Dai said the coffee is priced at 25 yuan ($3.45) per cup, and that daily sales have exceeded 2,000 yuan recently.

Gaoshan village is located a little over 25 kilometers west of downtown Chengdu.

"Previously, customers often came on weekends, but now an increasing number of people are driving here every day just to taste the coffee," said the 34-year-old.

The coffee's popularity has also garnered the attention of investors from across the country. Dai said he has received over 20 partnership proposals from cities including Chengdu, Chongqing and Beijing.

The garlic coffee is crafted by blending coffee with desulfurized garlic extract, and then sprinkling a thin layer of desulfurized garlic powder on the surface.

"The sulfides in garlic produce that lingering pungent odor that deters many people from enjoying it," Dai said. "So we use specialized techniques to remove these sulfides while preserving their aromatic essence. This, when blended with the coffee, creates a distinct and unique flavor experience."

The garlic extract is rich in allicin, which is known for its anti-aging and antioxidant benefits, making garlic coffee a healthy beverage, he added.

Drawn by rural lifestyles and vast development opportunities in China's countryside, Dai left his job behind in Beijing to pursue his aspirations in rural Chengdu.

In 2022, Dai's team partnered with Gaoshan village's economic cooperative to establish Chengdu Model Youth Technology Co. The joint venture transforms vacant village committee buildings into a low-cost entrepreneurial and consumption spaces that so far cover over 3,300 square meters.

"The facility primarily serves rural entrepreneurs, offering services including accommodation, dining, startup project roadshows and art exhibitions," he said.

Dai's team places great emphasis on innovation, seeking to transform basic agricultural products into high-value and fast-moving consumer goods. That's why they chose garlic — a signature product of the village — for their first foray into specialty coffee.

"Chengdu ranks second nationwide in the number of coffee shops, providing a strong consumer base. Moreover, consumers in the city are highly open-minded and eager to try new things," he said.

Since its market debut in October 2023, over 70,000 cups of garlic coffee have been sold across two fixed locations and one mobile sales vehicle.

"In addition to garlic coffee, we have developed rice and kale coffee, and they are also well-received by consumers," he said, adding that they plan to launch five new coffee products incorporating in-season agricultural products in the future.

Yan Zeju, Party secretary of Gaoshan and director of the village committee, said the village plants over 66.7 hectares of garlic, but in the past sold it primarily as seed.

"The price of seed garlic fluctuates with the market, and sometimes it can drop to a rather low level," she said. "The garlic coffee has enhanced the brand influence of local garlic and unlocked its potential value."

Yan said the coffee has attracted so many tourists to that village that it has effectively stimulated local tourism and boosted the sales of agricultural products.

The product's success has also drawn some young people back to the village to grow garlic and more entrepreneurs to start businesses, she said.

pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn