While yogurt is a global food, its cultural expression in China has unique characteristics. A Westerner typically pictures yogurt as a thick, creamy product eaten with a spoon for breakfast, perhaps with granola (e.g., Greek yogurt). In China, 酸奶 has a dual identity: 1. The Nostalgic Street Snack: The most iconic form is 老北京酸奶 (lǎo Běijīng suānnǎi), or “Old Beijing Yogurt.” It's traditionally sold in small, white ceramic pots, covered with a paper lid held on by a rubber band. You poke a straw through the paper and drink the cool, slightly sweet, and tangy yogurt. It's not a breakfast bowl; it's a refreshing treat you buy from a street vendor or corner store, evoking a sense of nostalgia and tradition, especially in northern China. 2. The Modern-Day Beverage: In any Chinese supermarket, the dairy aisle is dominated by massive displays of drinkable yogurts in single-serving bottles or juice-box-style cartons. Brands like Yili (伊利) and Mengniu (蒙牛) are giants. This form of 酸奶 is treated more like a healthy beverage than a meal component. Children take it to school for a snack, and adults drink it on their commute or after a meal to aid digestion. The consistency is often much thinner than Western yogurts, solidifying its role as a drink.
酸奶 is an everyday term used frequently and without much complexity.