Want a Red Bean Coolatta from Shanghai, Bostonians?
As a hip, world-traveling American, I am supposed to run in the other direction when I see a chain store from my native country, especially if that chain is a monster like Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts.
Buuuuut… it’s not that simple. You see, rather than being disgusted by the tentacles of imperialism in corporate garb, I’m frequently fascinated and impressed.
For example, check out the lead photo of this article. Dunkin’ Donuts of Shanghai fascinates me because they adapted their menu to suit the Chinese palate… and thus offer Red Bean, Pomelo, and Green Tea flavored Coolattas!
Starbucks Shanghai needs to explain the types of milk.
Meanwhile, I’m impressed by Starbucks for their consistency across the world, and for the extra mile they go to support that consistency. Not only do they have free Wifi and the exact same type of appliances and canisters as American Starbucks, but to see the step they took to make full consistency possible, look at the photo to the lower right. Part of the Starbucks allure is that customers can customize every single aspect of their drink, especially the milk. That said, Chinese food culture does not currently have the same picky milk distinctions as we do… and so Starbucks Shanghai kindly dedicated an entire large advertising board to educating its customers on what “Whole,” “Nonfat,” and “Soy” milk are.
So, yes, the beast of corporate imperialism is galloping its way through world, and it’s annoying and disturbing, but amid our protests, we also need to give a nod of respect: it takes smart adaptation to be embraced by so many cultures.
And you know a corporation has really been embraced when it appears on street signs (BEFORE the listing for the primal human need of “Toilets”) in the People’s Park of Shanghai!
You know globalization has arrived when the People's Park of Shanghai has this sign!
That red bean coolatta sounds good because I have actually drank red bean smoothies before. I would like to travel there to try some. On your trave to China in February, did you try some?
No! I forgot!
I like that they put what kind of milk they wanted. I actually don’t like soy and need to lose weight. I have 3 different choices.
Based on the picture, the drink looks very good! Did you actually buy one and try it?
I did not, but I’m headed back to China in Feb. with a group of students and so I can try it then!
Red bean drinks are awesome I love those drinks that you can only get at a chinese Starbuck’s or Mcdonald’s.I love the Lychee drink from Mcdonald’s from my last vist to my home town GuangZhou!Its the taste of Asia!!!:)
I would never want to have a “Red bean” coolattas. I think it would not be good, because I do not like beans at all.
I’m always up for a lemonade coolatta.
Mostly every morning I have gone to Dunkin Dounuts and have tried everything, I would defiantly wan’t to see what it tastes like in China. ^.^
Do they have other chain restaurants like Buger King or McDonalds that have other different foods rather than what the American ones have?
I wonder if the Dunkin Dounuts there tastes any different
I don’t like the idea of people in other countries taking our fast food chains in America.
Ha! I’ve never thought of it that way! Usually we say, “Isn’t it terrible that our culture and our chains are taking over the culture of others!”
I would love to try the Green Tea Coolatta from Dunkin Donuts, but I would most likely want to try something from Starbucks in Shanghai. This is because I think that the Starbucks in Shanghai would be really different from the Starbucks we have in Boston.
This is making me so hungry, I love Starbucks!
That’s cool. Yum! Those drinks look delicious! I like how in the pictures it says the english translation of the chinese lettering so if I went I would now what to order.
That’s interesting. When I read about the different soy milk and the picture with the different flavor coolatte, the first thought that came up in my head was “typical Asian stores”, since you don’t see these things happening in Boston.
Starbucks is expensive in China. On cup of tall is about 30 something dollars!
The Haagen Dazs ice cream is even worse! One scoop on a cone or cup (your coice) is the same as Starbucks. I am so going to try the American chain foods in China next time when I go to Shaihai or Guangzhou!
Starbucks and Haagen Daaz WERE expensive in China, but $30 is an exaggeration!
I want the Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks drinks from China! They have way more choices than we do even though we started the chain business. Man, when I go back to China, going to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts is on the top of my to-do list! We should have these choices in America to “lure” in more cultures.
I love how you said “As a hip, world-traveling American, I am supposed to run in the other direction when I see a chain store from my native country, especially if that chain is a monster like Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts.” I would have said the same, because I am (laughing) but also it’s true as Americans you want to try new things, but you just can’t because the food is so good!
Starbucks for any foreigner in a foreign land is always 1) a place you can get your bearings 2) usually a good place to go to the bathroom. Traveling would be a lil more scary without the knowledge you can find respite at a Starbucks.
I think this is only in Shanghai because I can not find any in China.
I mean Tai Shan not China.
I would love to try some of their red bean Coolatta! I wonder is it anything like a red bean shake? Did you try anything like that in China?
I have had a Red Bean Shake back in Chinatown in Boston, but actually didn’t try it in China! I’m going back in February, however, so I can go on a mission to try it for you!
I agree completely! Coffee in China should be a dictionary definition for the exact opposite of a guilty pleasure! And it doesn’t come cheap either – two years ago I paid $13 for a coffee in Hangzhou! See: http://sillybilly.travellerspoint.com/16/
Yes!!!!
My first morning on my last trip to China I asked my hotel for a coffee with my breakfast. I got a few blank stares until someone worked out what I was saying, then they went out to the back and found some instant coffee that tasted terrible. I was so happy to find a Starbucks later that morning, as most of the country is still in the thralls of tea.
“Still in the thralls of tea…” = Best phrase in a comment ever