'Demon child' film serves up fresh feasts

Success of Ne Zha 2 boosts popularity of movie-related dishes, ingredients

From lotus root dishes to fiery hotpot, the animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has ignited nationwide culinary trends, turning meals inspired by the film into social media sensations.

The feature has surpassed Avengers: Infinity War to become the sixth highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide, according to the Lighthouse Professional Edition, a box office data provider owned by Alibaba.

In the movie, the body of Ne Zha, a mythical demon child, is reborn from lotus root starch. Off-screen, sales of lotus root starch, lotus root soup and other dishes featuring the plant have surged, with restaurants embracing the ingredient in new and inventive ways.