Cuisine is an important aspect in every culture and it displays the history lifestyle, beliefs and values of a group of people. Food serves as not only to nourish the body but also provides some social benefits as well. Across the world, culinary recipes are passed from generations to generations in order to preserve a cultural heritage. The Chinese cuisine is no exception with culinary dishes being passed on for generations which spans over hundreds of years. This paper focuses on the history of some Chinese cuisines, cuisines specialized by geographical locations, the cultural affiliates of Chinese cuisines and its importance in the way of life as well as its cultural connotations and the influence of cuisine on a global scale.
The Chinese cuisine is very dynamic and has a long history of cuisines which has been passed on for many generations. All twenty-three provinces in china have their unique dishes however there is five main distinct regions in China where the most influential cuisines are derived from. They are the Sichuan cuisine, Anhui cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Fujian, Jiangsu, Hunan and Zhejiang cuisine. The various Chinese cuisines are influenced by the natural resources available in the area as well as the climatic conditions.
The Sichuan cuisine is mostly known for its hot and spicy flavors. Originating from the southwestern part of china, the common ingredients that can be found in their meals are garlic, peanut, ginger, Sichuan pepper and chili. These dishes are known to be flavorful. Popular dishes in the Sichuan region include butt not limited to Sichuan hotpot, mapo tofu, dandan noodles and the spicy diced chicken.
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The Anhui cuisine is known to be greasy and salty and it originates from the Huangshan Mountainous region. The popular ingredients used in cuisines from this region are Fungi, pork, ham, vegetables and meats and vegetables found from the wildlife are incorporated into their dishes. Some popular meals that can be found in this region are steamed pork with lotus leaves and Jixi Yipin pot.
The Cantonese cuisine is delicious and light diet. These dishes are served in small size bites known as dim sum. Cantonese dishes are very popular outside of China. The cooking methods employed in the making of these dishes are steaming, frying and baking. Some examples of popular Cantonese dishes are rice rolls, stir-fried green vegetables and buns.
The Shandong cuisine is one of the oldest cuisines in China. Theses dishes are known for their fresh, crisp and tender features. Some of the popular dishes are braised port intestines, braised sea cucumbers and braised abalone.
The Fujian cuisine is salt and sweet which is associated with the Southern part and spicy which popular among those from the north. In cooking this cuisine, the various techniques used are: stewing, boiling, braising and steaming.
The Hunan cuisine is known to be spicy with a fresh aroma. Stir frying, roasting and smoking are some techniques that are used in preparing this cuisine. This region is known for its high agricultural produce. Some popular dishes in this area are rice noodle soup and steaming smoked meat.
The Zhejiang cuisine is known to have a strong sauce flavor as well as not being greasy. These dishes are mostly characterized by fish and seafood. This region is also known for their sweet confectionary. Popular cooking methods include stewing and braising. Sliced fried eel and fried cuttlefish rolls are popular in the region.
The Jiangsu cuisine is made up of stapes such as rice and root crops as well as lots of vegetables and herbs. The cuisine from his region is known to have a sweet taste Seafood is also incorporated into the dishes. Some of the dishes in that area are watermelon chicken and sweet and sour mandarin fish.
Food serves as an important element in the Chinese culture where it is used in the celebration of festivals and also to showcase the values that are cherished by the Chinese people. These include happiness, family and togetherness, prosperity and new beginnings.
During the Chinese Spring Festival, sweet rice dumplings are served which is used to represent the full moon that appears during the night. These sweet dumplings ae served in round bowls to represent happiness and togetherness.
Additionally, spring rolls, a popular dish served in the Chinese culture signifies wealth since it is in the shape of gold bars. They are also eaten during the celebration of the Cold Food Day festival and the Tomb Sweeping Day which occur during the Spring. This is to remember and pay respect to the ancestors.
Fish also serves a significant purpose during the New Year celebrations. Some fish which is used for the celebration is left over to signify abundant profit very year. This practice is derived from the Chinese expression. nián nián yǒu yú, or ‘every year there is fish/leftover’)
Furthermore, dumplings serve an important role in Chinese culture. Aside from the fact that they are very popular throughout the country, they also eaten during the Chinese New Year Family Reunion Dinner to symbolize wealth since they resemble the Chinese sycee.
Chinese foods are also used for idiomatic expressions. Tofu for example is used in idiomatic expressions. To eat one’s Toufu means to flirt with someone. Tofu is also used as an idiomatic expression with regards to beauty.
Hot Pot also known as Huoguo is mostly eaten in a group. This simmering pot of soup has the power to enhance friendships as well as unite families and colleagues. Since the meal is eaten from the same pot, it encourages togetherness and creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere.
Just like the Hot Pot dish, a lot of Chinese meals can be eaten together which fosters a strong sense of community and belonging. A lot of Chinese dishes also have a strong history which includes folk tales which can be passed on to generations.
China has placed itself on the global map by introducing the rest of the world to its culture. One of the ways this has been accomplished is through food. Presently, there are Chinese restaurants all over the world. This serves as a way to introduce the Chinese culture to the international community as well as give people all around the world an opportunity to experience the interesting culture the Chinese has to offer and this has been done through food. Many Chinese meals have been adopted by other foreign countries as well and this has become stapes in these countries.
Food has always served as a great and innovative way to introduce and start a conversation about one’s culture. Even the way food is eaten gives deep insights into the cultural values of a group of people. Through cuisines, tourists are attracted to different parts of the world to explore and learn more about other people’s cultures. This has great financial benefits to the economy as well as creating and building positive images around the world. Every year many people come to China to explore the culture of the Chinese of which its culinary aspect is no exception. As Emeril Lagasse once said, “Food is very representative of a city’s culture. In order to really get to know a place, you have got to eat the food”.
