Documentary milks universal connections

"We wanted to re-imagine how food documentaries are made, capturing not just the flavors but the human stories behind them," Zhu says. "The story of milk not only reflects humanity's reliance on food, but also highlights its connection to the future and evolving market demands, adding vitality to the documentary."

Building on past successes, producer He Shifei says that the production team has long focused on innovation in food and culture documentaries, continuously pushing the boundaries of storytelling and cinematography. From the Once Upon a Bite series to China Beyond Tastes, they have explored a variety of culinary traditions. With Milk, they sought to highlight the historical and cultural depth of dairy.

"Milk is a universal ingredient, yet its significance varies across regions and traditions. From the frozen landscapes of Northern Europe to equatorial islands and the vast Ulan Buh Desert, dairy has shaped local cuisines and customs," He says.