Building on a traditional diet that promotes an ‘eat little and often’ approach, snacking is a natural fit in Chinese food culture. But Western brands haven’t had a smooth ride catering to domestic tastes. How are attitudes to snacking changing? And what do people want to eat between meals?

Coffee giant Starbucks is responding to growing consumer demand for milk alternatives by introducing ‘Starbucks Almondmilk’, the chain's third non-dairy menu option (following soy and coconut), which is set to roll out in the US in September 2016.

Dairy alternatives aren’t groundbreaking. They’re drinks made from nuts or seeds, mixed with water and flavourings – and they’ve been around for centuries. But we’re slurping them at a rate of more than 42 million litres a year. So what is it about cow’s milk that’s turning the dairy market sour?

Unlike some countries in the West, people in China generally feel positively towards what globalisation can do for their economy and the nation's future. But they still have some concerns about Westernisation, and want to ensure that local culture and tradition is preserved.