Guo Ji Oil Tea

Guo Ji Oil Tea is an oil tea house at No. 7 Xinyi Road in Xiufeng District, Guilin, in Guangxi, China. Oil tea, called youcha, is a savory soup rather than a tea in the Western sense. It is made by pounding tea leaves with ginger, garlic and other herbs, then simmering the mixture and serving it with toppings such as roasted peanuts and puffed rice. The drink is a traditional food of the Yao and Dong communities of Guangxi and neighbouring provinces, and it is often taken as a restorative meal or snack rather than a beverage. Guo Ji serves it as individual sets priced at about ¥30 to ¥50 (roughly $4 to $7), and as larger group trays for three people at about ¥100 to ¥200 (roughly $15 to $30). The set typically arrives with the tea soup and a selection of crunchy toppings so diners can build each bowl to taste. The flavour is bitter, salty and herbal, and first-time visitors often find it an acquired taste, though the toppings soften it. The setting is a simple tea house with an unhurried pace; it works as a light meal or a pause between sights. Reservations are not taken, so the house is walk-in only. For travellers interested in the minority food traditions of Guangxi, it offers an accessible introduction without leaving the city. Sharing a group tray is the most practical way to sample the range of toppings. Hours are not confirmed in the available listing, so visitors should check Amap (Gaode), Dianping or Meituan by searching the Chinese name before setting out.