Coffee’s foreign roots haven’t stopped it from winning Chinese taste buds, and a coffee festival in Guangzhou showed how creative that love has become. New drinks and playful displays filled the halls, while a Mongolian yurt booth drew long lines.

An Inner Mongolian brand brought prairie flair to the city, mixing coffee with mare’s milk, fresh dairy and jerky to create a blend that felt both rugged and surprisingly refined. Elsewhere, coffee met alcohol in clever pairings that turned familiar sips into fresh surprises.

A local Guangzhou café also caught attention for drinks that look as good as they taste. One specialty mixes starfruit and kiwi for a crisp finish, topped with a lavender garnish for extra charm.

The festival gathered top coffee names from 11 countries and 34 cities and regions, letting visitors sample a wide range of global styles in one place.