Ice cup 2.0: Flavoured ice ball cups further fuel the craze of creative DIY mixers

Earlier this summer, we reported on the sudden rise in popularity of ice cups, which gained significant attention online despite their previous low profile. Even though summer has ended, the enthusiasm for cold drinks continues - many consumers are expressing a desire for icy beverages year-round. The hashtag #IceDrinkLovers on Xiaohongshu has attracted 93.54 million views and over 110,000 related posts. Influenced by South Korea’s ice-cold beverage culture, many in China enjoy iced drinks, even in freezing winters.

Users on Xiaohongshu frequently share their year-round love for iced beverages, particularly iced Americanos. Image: Xiaohongshu @在逃挖掘机i @小刘爱吃香菜 @小景

However, while enjoying these chilled drinks, consumers have voiced complaints about issues like too much ice and diluted flavours as the ice melts. Comments such as “It’s gone after just four or five sips,” “There’s so much ice I can’t even insert the straw,” and “Are you serving me ice instead coffee?” have been common, especially targeting coffee brands like Luckin and Starbucks for their excessive ice.

Many consumers on Xiaohongshu have complained that Luckin and Starbucks serve too much ice in their coffee, leaving them with little to drink after just a few sips. Image: Xiaohongshu @江川不想摆烂 @momo吃什么 @VW50

To tackle the problem of diluted flavours in freshly brewed iced coffee, brands like Dice Provisions, Yongpu Coffee, and Freshippo have introduced coffee-flavoured ice cubes and ice ball cups. These products are easy to use—just add the ice cubes to coffee or mix them with 150-200ml of room temperature water, sparkling water, or milk. They provide a refreshing chill without compromising the drink's flavour integrity.

Dice Provisions has introduced its latest product: Dice Coffee Ice Cubes, the "first-ever" craft coffee ice cubes. Made from premium organic coffee, the ice cubes are crafted from dark roast beans and utilize a unique nitro-freezing process to maintain a rich, full-bodied taste. In addition to iced coffee, Dice Coffee Ice Cubes can also be used in shakes, smoothies and cocktails.Retailing at $12.99, the cubes are designed for easy access in grocery store freezers. Image: FoodBev Media

Yongpu Coffee’s ice ball cup, made with premium espresso, offers a rich toffee flavour and can be combined with milk, juice, or soda for creative mixes. Image: Xiaohongshu @永璞咖啡

Freshippo’s classic cold brew coffee ice ball cup is priced at ￥6.9. Image: Xiaohongshu @一枚硬核桃

With the introduction of coffee ice ball cups in China, a variety of DIY coffee drinks have emerged.

Users experiment by adding milk, sparkling water, orange juice, or coconut milk to create different flavor iced lattes, iced Americanos, and innovative combinations like soy milk with coffee ice balls. Image: Xiaohongshu @痴吃小兽 @饮水baby爱饮品 @可严可甜甜圈 @鸭脚猪的生活日志 @Sandy03 @下沙银泰盒马小盒

In addition to coffee ice ball cups, retailers like Freshippo and Lawson have launched various fruit-flavoured ice cubes, which have quickly gained popularity.

Freshippo's sweet and tangy passion fruit ice cup and refreshing grape juice ice cup contain over 80% and 90% real fruit juice, respectively, and can be enjoyed directly or mixed with sparkling water or coffee, also priced at ￥6.9. Image: Xiaohongshu @所长老乔 @日记本-

Sorlato, a domestic iced drink brand, offers lemon, strawberry, and mango-flavoured fruit ice ball cups, claiming to use natural fruits and featuring the cleanest ingredient list for cold drinks in China—zero additives, colourings, or preservatives—priced at ￥8.79 per cup on Dingdong Maicai. Image: Xiaohongshu @冰菓珠

Consumers use fruit-flavoured ice ball cups to create refreshing DIY mixers. These fruit-flavoured ice ball cups pair perfectly with fruit wines, Yakult, unsweetened tea, Sprite, beer, sparkling wine, and cocktails. Image: Xiaohongshu @叶子俊- @小晓 @小棉袄儿 @崽崽怕张肉 @硬核圆脸 @蜡笔小昕o