About Hotpot Ambassador

Food brings people together. For hotpot, this holds especially true. It is not just a dish or cooking method, it is a culture on its own. Huddling around the table together, sharing food, trying out new things, and taking the time to enjoy the hotpot and each other's company is what hotpot is all about.

By sharing the must-knows on DIY hot pot, dining out options, and latest hot pot trends, Hotpot Ambassador aims to promote 'hotpot culture' and share the love for hot pot and everything that comes with it.

Hotpot Ambassador is an initiative by hotpot fanatic Manya Koetse, who is a China social trend watcher running the Eye on Digital China newsletter (previously: What's on Weibo), which helps subscribers understand China through its digital culture, social trends, media ecosystems, and online conversations.

Manya's experiences in China have resulted in an ongoing strong connection with this country, its language, people, and culture.

Over the past decade, Manya's love for hotpot has grown into somewhat of a hotpot mania; she is a frequent visitor of hotpot restaurants around Beijing, but also tries out the latest hotpot products at home. Based in Amsterdam and often going back to Beijing and traveling to other Chinese cities, she is a fan of 'fusion hotpot' - combining traditional Chinese hotpot flavors with products or tastes from Southeast Asia or Europe.