Core Insights - The "Nai Pi Zi Tang Hu Lu" (milk skin candied hawthorn) has become a trending beverage in the tea drink sector, experiencing a 60% increase in sales for brands like Lele Tea, indicating a significant consumer demand for this product [1][4][9] - The rapid rise in popularity has led to supply shortages, with many manufacturers struggling to meet the increased demand, resulting in price hikes of 30-50% for raw materials [9][11][20] - Industry experts are debating whether "Nai Pi Zi" can become a staple ingredient in tea drinks, similar to "pearls" or "thick milk," but face challenges such as unclear definitions, high production costs, and varying quality standards [13][20][22] Group 1: Product Popularity - "Nai Pi Zi Tang Hu Lu" has become a winter consumer favorite, with reports of long queues and high prices, such as 98 yuan for a single skewer in Shanghai [1][4] - Social media platforms like Xiaohongshu have seen over 10,000 posts about "Nai Pi Zi Tang Hu Lu," indicating a strong online presence and consumer interest [4] - Lele Tea's modification to include "Tang Hu Lu" in their product name significantly boosted their sales and in-store traffic [4][9] Group 2: Supply Chain Challenges - The surge in demand has left many milk skin factories overwhelmed, with reports of full production capacities and inability to fulfill orders, leading to nationwide shortages [9][11] - The price of raw milk skin has reportedly increased by nearly 100%, further complicating supply issues for manufacturers [11][20] - The production process for traditional milk skin is labor-intensive, requiring significant amounts of fresh milk and time, which limits scalability [20][22] Group 3: Industry Perspectives - Experts suggest that while "Nai Pi Zi" has potential as a seasonal ingredient, its high cost and production challenges may hinder widespread adoption in the tea drink market [20][22] - The lack of standardized definitions and quality control for "Nai Pi Zi" poses a barrier to its acceptance as a mainstream ingredient [15][18] - The journey of "Nai Pi Zi" reflects broader trends in the Chinese consumer market, highlighting the potential of regional ingredients to gain popularity through social media and innovative supply chains [23]