Milk Foam Swirls into Delicate Patterns: An Aussie Guy Brings “The Australian Lifestyle” to His Booth | Up Close

The milk foam spins in the cup, forming delicate, velvety patterns as Dylan Saeed, a young man from Australia, holds a coffee pitcher and hands a cup of flat white to an eager visitor. This is his first time setting foot on Chinese soil—and also his debut as the person-in-charge of Kitchen Master, standing at the CIIE booth. Thanks to China’s 30-day visa-free policy, he has finally fulfilled his dream of “bringing quality Australian goods and culture to China.”

Before this, Dylan’s impression of China was limited to the aroma of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in Melbourne’s Chinatown and the dazzling night view of the Oriental Pearl Tower online. But now, standing in the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), he can truly feel the enthusiasm of the Chinese market. Last year, though he didn’t attend in person, Kitchen Master made its first appearance at the 7th CIIE—and the response was overwhelming. Products like canola oil and alcohol-free beverage series received explosive orders, with China accounting for 80% of all sales. The surge even pushed the company to expand its factory in the first half of the year and open its first themed restaurant in Melbourne.

“This heat has pushed us to prepare even better for the 8th CIIE!” Dylan says. The Source Australia, founded in Melbourne in 2016, established an Australian Import Pavilion at Greenland Global Commodity Trade Port last year, serving as a key showcase for Australian products in China. The huge success of their first CIIE participation left the company pleasantly surprised.

So, Michelle Chen, Chairman of Worldsource Australia, and Greenland Group communicated early to ensure the 8th CIIE would be their best yet. Not only did they double their booth size, but they also added a dedicated section for Australian Aboriginal culture—where bold paintings, traditional musical instruments, and handmade crafts are displayed, allowing visitors to touch the authentic texture of Australian culture. Meanwhile, this year’s Australian Import Pavilion brings over 30 locally unique products, including 12 new launches.

As a licensed barista from Melbourne—the “coffee capital”—Dylan has brought the “Australian lifestyle” right into his booth. Throughout the exhibition, he stays on-site daily, hand-brewing coffee for visitors so they can savor the sunshine of Melbourne in every sip, while also meeting distributors and discussing collaborations. Already, multiple Chinese partners have scheduled meetings, and after the expo, he plans to travel across China to visit clients and explore the market further.

“I was immediately struck by the energy here on my first visit,” he says, wiping his coffee pitcher with a gleam in his eyes. “I hope more people will fall in love with Australian products—and with this cross-ocean lifestyle connection.