Chinese cuisine and culinary practices are well-known worldwide, but these delicacies have a long historical and traditional chain that the Chinese people have kept consolidated for about 5000 years when the Chinese civilization came into being. Traditions and knowledge have been passed on from generation to generation, making Chinese food culture one of the most well-documented and widely researched in the world. This article aims to highlight Chinese culinary culture, as well as to provide information regarding the kind of ingredients used in Chinese food, the importance of table manners, and their philosophical belief that food can be used as medicine to heal the body.
Ingredients Used In Chinese Food
Source: The Woks of Life
Chinese people have categories of staple and non-staple food. In Southern China, where rice farming is common, the staple food is rice. Whereas, in Northern China, where wheat farming is more prevalent, staple food consists of flour-based sustenance such as noodles, dumplings, steamed buns (mantou) and pancakes. Other staple foods include grains, cereals, and sweet potatoes. Chinese food is not divided by first, second and third course, but rather by a cold dish (served first), followed by soup and then hot dish (usually main course). The Chinese people do not consider desserts as the final course but as snacks usually taken between meals. Fruit is usually served at the end of the meal.
In addition to staple food, meat, vegetables, and fruits are also an important part of the Chinese diet. The ingredients used in Chinese cooking are very important for authentic taste and overall feel of the food. Chinese cooking is a fusion of taste, aroma, aesthetics, and form that is achieved through using various utensils, cooking techniques, spices, sauces, and oils.
Chinese prefer cooking in a wok, a shallow bowl-shaped frying pan with thin walls. A steamer and rice cooker are also popular cooking utensils in China. They employ various cooking techniques such as stir-frying, steaming, boiling, braising, simmering, deep-frying, pickling, stewing and smoking. Important sauces include both white and dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, oyster sauce, Chinkiang or rice vinegar and hoisin sauce. Peanut and sesame oils are also two of the essential Chinese cooking ingredients. Their food is also infused with ginger and garlic flavors, and spices such as salt, white pepper, dried chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns are an integral part of Chinese cuisine.
Importance of Table Manners
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Chinese people love to host and make their guests feel welcome. So, if you are being hosted by them or are the host yourself, it is important to pay attention to table manners and eating etiquettes.
Chinese people like to eat together. The best seat, usually the one facing the entrance and east is reserved for the eldest or the chief guest. Likewise, the eldest or the chief guest initiates eating and the rest follow. Separate individual bowls are used for rice and other dishes are served in communal bowls; chopsticks or serving spoons are used to pick food from the central dishes. Mostly, the Chinese people prefer chopsticks while eating and ceramic shallow spoons for soups. Playing with chopsticks or pointing them towards a person or food you want it to be handed over is considered disrespectful.
Other common table manners include being graceful and modest while eating, not making too much noise or mess, picking up bowl to eat rice and thanking the host at the end of the meal.
Food as Medicine
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The Chinese people believe that food is not only vital for providing energy and nutritional benefits, but also for its medicinal purposes and properties. This is known as therapy by diet. It is believed that whatever we eat has an influence on the human body and some things are more effective in treating certain kinds of ailments and illnesses. For example, it is believed by the Chinese people that ginger is a very good source of treating and avoiding cold.
Similarly, many ingredients and herbs are used in the cooking by the Chinese local to not only make the food tasty but also so that its medicinal properties are absorbed by the body to prevent and cure illness.
The Chinese believe medicine has a toxic effect on the body and should be avoided as much as possible. One may turn to medicine if treatment through diet therapy has failed.
Conclusion
People all around the globe love to have Chinese food because it is infused with their culture and creativity. Many other properties of Chinese cuisine have forced people belonging to different parts of the world to learn how to prepare Chinese dining delicacies.
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