Watch It Coca Cola, The Chinese Are Coming.

Call it the signs of the times or inevitability. It had to happen some time. Coca Cola is about to get whupped in China by herbal tea! The Chinese market as everyone knows is huge and coke has had an uninterrupted run as the numero uno soft drink there, but not for long.

Chinese planners probably decided that while they can beat the gwailo in his own game they can't best him with another imitation Coke. They've seen Pepsi having a tough time penetrating Coca Cola territory while other versions of the beverage bit the dust. So they put their genius to work and hey presto! herbal tea arrived.

China's traditional herbal tea beverage packed in fashionable cans and bottles, is likely to eclipse Coca Cola in the Chinese market this year. The market position of herbal tea was consolidated by news of its inclusion on China's first national Intangible Heritage list in June.With rising market demand, production of herbal tea is expected to surpass Coca Cola products for the first time this year.

Herbal tea, which relies on Chinese traditional pharmacological principles to reduce internal heat, has become increasingly popular with its market image of being a healthy choice for cooling summer heat while quenching thirst. Herbal tea originates from Guangdong Province and Hong Kong and Macao. These areas made a joint application to have the production process of herbal tea included on the state's Intangible Heritage list. Traditionally, various varieties of herbal tea capable of reducing heat or improving digestion were sold in the street in big kettles made of cotton.

Big herbal tea companies in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are promoting herbal tea beverage in slick packaging on the global market. The next step? Conquering gwailo territory of course. So Coke had better beware. Chinese herbal tea is ready for take-off.