We aren’t strangers to bizarre food combinations, but this one made even us do a double-take. Forget fries and coleslaw, KFC in China is pairing its signature roasted chicken with a whole watermelon as part of its latest summer menu, and the internet is just as stunned as we are!
KFC China’s Summer Menu Has Chicken Served With Watermelon
In a move that has left food lovers intrigued, KFC China has rolled out a limited-edition summer combo featuring its signature roasted chicken served with whole watermelons. The unusual meal deal launched on July 15 and has quickly become one of the season’s most talked-about food offerings.
According to China Insider, the promotion is available at over 8,000 KFC outlets across the country. Customers who order the 34.9 RMB baked chicken meal through the KFC app received a free mini red-flesh watermelon, with only 80,000 available nationwide.
Unsurprisingly, the quirky pairing sparked a frenzy online. In Shanghai, KFC even began selling the same mini watermelons separately for 16.9 RMB at dine-in outlets. The first batch of 5,000 sold out almost instantly, with reports of long queues and even people paying others to stand in line and grab one for them.
It is worth noting that this isn’t KFC China’s first experiment with such a bizarre pairing. Last summer, the chain gave away yellow-flesh watermelons with its meals. This year, it’s switched to the more familiar red-flesh variety, and once again, the internet can’t stop talking about it.
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Why Did The Fast-Food Chain Introduce Such Combo?
If you’re wondering why KFC China decided to pair fried chicken with watermelon, there’s actually a seasonal reason behind it. The promotion began with Sanfu, the hottest and most humid period of the year in China, which typically lasts 30 to 40 days.
Sanfu is divided into three phases:
- Toufu: The first 10-day period, marking the start of the extreme heat.
- Zhongfu: The middle phase, lasting 10 to 20 days, when temperatures and humidity are at their peak.
- Mofu: The final 10-day stretch, as the intense summer heat gradually begins to ease.
During Sanfu, eating ‘cooling’ foods such as watermelon, bitter melon, and mung bean soup is a long-standing tradition believed to help beat the heat. That’s precisely why KFC China chose to pair its signature chicken with a whole watermelon.
Also Read: China Has A Beer Museum With More Bottles Than You Can Count!
With this, KFC taps into a seasonal eating habit that’s familiar to many people across the country and went viral online at the same time!
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@FullContext_
FAQs
Why is KFC China serving watermelon with chicken?
KFC's promotion coincides with Sanfu, China's hottest and most humid period of the year, when eating cooling foods like watermelon is a common seasonal tradition.
What is Sanfu?
Sanfu is the hottest 30 to 40-day period of the year in China. It is divided into three phases—Toufu, Zhongfu, and Mofu—which mark the beginning, peak, and end of the extreme summer heat.
How could customers get the free watermelon?
Customers who ordered KFC China's 34.9 RMB baked chicken meal through the KFC app received a free mini red-flesh watermelon, while stocks lasted.