Episode Details

Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa is centuries old—but it’s having a very modern moment. In this episode, we trace how a traditional Chinese cough syrup first brewed in the 1600s has gone global, with sales surging thanks to TikTok “biohacking,” celebrity endorsements, and viral tutorials in the West. We explore why ancient remedies suddenly feel appealing in a digital wellness age—and how trade tariffs and geopolitics now threaten to make this sticky, herbal staple more expensive abroad. Is this a timeless cure reborn, or just another algorithm-powered health craze?

https://www.economist.com/business/2025/08/14/a-400-year-old-chinese-cough-syrup-is-winning-over-westerners