Why a Chinese Cafe Sells Blood Bag Drinks for $60

In a Liaoning café, customers can now buy a $60 'blood bag' drink served in a medical-style pouch—complete with fake blood type labels and a barcode. The deep red liquid inside comes in two flavors: blueberry puree and cranberry puree. While it’s designed to look like something out of a horror film, the drink has sparked debate over its purpose and safety.

The short answer? These 'blood bag' drinks are novelty items, not functional beverages. Priced at $60 per bag (up from 30 yuan, or roughly $4, in 2013), they come in 100ml portions and are marketed as 'Blood Type Energy Supply'—but experts confirm they offer no real blood-like benefits.

What Are These Blood Bag Drinks?

The drink is packaged in a transparent plastic pouch resembling a medical blood bag, with a tube for drinking. It’s labeled with phrases like 'Blood Type Energy Supply' and includes fictional blood type markers. The liquid inside is a dark red puree, available in blueberry or cranberry flavors. The design also features dramatic English text about vampires, a barcode, and even a red cross symbol—despite having no medical approval.

Why Did This Trend Start?

The concept gained attention around 2013, when 'vampire drinks' became a viral fad, inspired in part by TV shows like *The Vampire Diaries*. These drinks were sold online under various names, such as 'vampire plasma drink' or 'vampire energy drink,' often priced over $100 for imported versions. The Liaoning café’s version is a physical recreation of that online trend, marketed as a high-energy novelty.

Are They Actually Healthy—or Safe?

Health experts have repeatedly warned that these drinks are not blood substitutes. They contain no blood cells, plasma, or clotting factors. While they may provide minimal energy from natural fruit purees, they don’t circulate in the body like real blood. One expert clarified that they’re at best functional drinks with some minerals, but the marketing claims of 'blood-like nutrition' are misleading. Worse, consuming them under the assumption they can replenish blood is dangerous—especially for patients. Doctors advise against drinking them, particularly for those with health conditions.

What’s the Real Appeal?

The primary draw is the novelty and shock factor. The packaging mimics medical supplies, and the dark red color adds to the vampire-themed aesthetic. For some, it’s a quirky experience or a social media prop. But beyond the visual gimmick, there’s no proven health benefit—and the steep $60 price tag doesn’t align with the actual contents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s actually in the blood bag drink sold in Liaoning?

The drink is a deep red puree made from either blueberry or cranberry, served in a medical-style blood bag pouch. It’s 100ml in volume and was originally priced around 30 yuan (about $4) in 2013, but now costs 60 yuan (roughly $60) per bag.

Are blood bag drinks safe to consume?

Health experts warn that these drinks are not safe to use as blood substitutes. They contain no actual blood components like cells or clotting factors, and while they may provide minor energy from fruit, they don’t function like blood in the body. They could pose health risks, especially for patients.

Why are they marketed as 'blood type energy supply'?

The term 'Blood Type Energy Supply' is a marketing gimmick. The bags include fictional blood type labels and vampire-themed text, but there’s no scientific basis for claiming they provide energy in the way blood does. It’s purely a novelty label.

What’s the history behind vampire-themed drinks?

The trend started around 2013, when 'vampire drinks' went viral online, inspired by shows like *The Vampire Diaries*. Various versions were sold as 'plasma drinks' or 'energy drinks,' often imported and priced over $100. The Liaoning café’s version brings that online trend into a physical, high-priced format.

Should I try one of these drinks?

Unless you’re buying it purely for the novelty or as a social media experience, there’s no real reason to try it. The health claims are unfounded, and doctors advise against consuming them, especially for those with medical conditions.

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