Iced juice. [Photo/VCG]

Ice and iced beverages

Although there were no fridges in ancient times, iceboxes to store ice cubes in summer had become very common in rich families by the Tang Dynasty.

At that time, people either had ice water or crunched shaved ice.

People could easily buy iced beverages on the street during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). As a community service, some rich people even provided free ice water and medicine on the street for free.

Ice water sold during the Song Dynasty was often added to mung beans or licorice to help prevent heat stroke.