Culinary CultureCulinary Culture

A Outline of Traditional A Outline of Traditional Chinese CultureChinese Culture

Chinese Cuisine / FoodChinese Cuisine / Food

The Features of Chinese FoodThe Features of Chinese Food Eight Regional CuisinesEight Regional Cuisines Table MannersTable Manners

The features of Chinese The features of Chinese FoodFood

Colour, Aroma, and TasteColour, Aroma, and Taste Color Color refers not only to the beautiful refers not only to the beautiful

color of the food, but also to the layout color of the food, but also to the layout and design. and design.

Aroma Aroma refers to the fragrant and refers to the fragrant and appetizing smell of the dishes served on appetizing smell of the dishes served on the table before eating. the table before eating.

TasteTaste is not only associated with tasting is not only associated with tasting the food itself, but also with the the food itself, but also with the appreciation of seasonings and texture.appreciation of seasonings and texture.

3. Chinese cuisine

业务流程

• Chinese culinary arts are famous all over the world. Chinese dishes appeal to the senses through sight, smell, taste, texture.

• Chinese cuisine includes a variety of different flavors due to China's vast geography and diverse nationalities. Local dishes with their own distinctiveness can be roughly divided into eight regional cuisines.

Cooking MethodsCooking Methods

Time and temperature play an Time and temperature play an important role in cooking. important role in cooking.

They include boiling (They include boiling ( 煮煮 ), stewing ), stewing (( 煲煲 // 炖炖 ), braising (), braising ( 烧烧 // 焖焖 // 烩烩 ), frying ), frying (( 煎煎 ), stir-frying (), stir-frying ( 炒炒 ),), quick-frying quick-frying (( 爆爆 ), deep-frying (), deep-frying ( 炸炸 ), frying and ), frying and simmering (simmering ( 扒扒 ), saut), sautééing (ing ( 快煎快煎 ), ), simmering (simmering ( 煨煨 ), smoking (), smoking ( 熏熏 ), ), roasting or barbecuing (roasting or barbecuing ( 烤烤 ), baking ), baking (( 烘烘 ), steaming (), steaming ( 蒸蒸 ) and scalding () and scalding ( 白白灼灼 ).).

SeasoningsSeasonings

Taste mainly depends on the Taste mainly depends on the seasonings. seasonings.

There are many tastesThere are many tastes——salty (salt, soy salty (salt, soy sauce), sweet (sugar, honey), sour sauce), sweet (sugar, honey), sour (vinegar), pungent (chili, ginger, (vinegar), pungent (chili, ginger, scallion scallion 葱葱 ), fragrant (sesame oil), fragrant (sesame oil 香油香油 , , coriander coriander 香菜香菜 , wine), prickled (, wine), prickled ( 麻的麻的 ) ) (prickly ash (prickly ash 花椒花椒 ) and tangy ) and tangy (monosodium glutamate or MSG (monosodium glutamate or MSG 味精味精 ) ) and bitter (dried tangerine and bitter (dried tangerine 陈皮陈皮 , bitter , bitter apricot kernel apricot kernel 苦杏仁苦杏仁 ).).

Yin-yangYin-yang Principle Principle

Each food has its own Each food has its own characteristics of characteristics of yinyin or or yangyang. . YinYin foods are thin, cooling and low in foods are thin, cooling and low in calories. calories. YangYang foods are rich, spicy, foods are rich, spicy, warming and high in calories. warming and high in calories. Boiling food makes them Boiling food makes them yinyin; frying ; frying them makes them them makes them yangyang..

Medicinal FunctionMedicinal Function

In China, people contend that a food In China, people contend that a food tonic (tonic ( 食补食补 ) is much better than a ) is much better than a medicine in fortifying one's health. medicine in fortifying one's health.

Based on traditional Chinese herbal Based on traditional Chinese herbal medicine practice, medicinal medicine practice, medicinal cuisine combines strictly processed cuisine combines strictly processed traditional Chinese medicine with traditional Chinese medicine with traditional culinary (traditional culinary ( 烹饪的烹饪的 ) ) materials to produce delicious food materials to produce delicious food with health-restoring qualities.with health-restoring qualities.

Eight Regional CuisinesEight Regional Cuisines

Foods vary from north to south. Foods vary from north to south. Tastes also differ regionally Tastes also differ regionally because of the climatic because of the climatic differences. One popular differences. One popular summary of Chinese food is summary of Chinese food is ““sweet in the south, salty in the sweet in the south, salty in the north, sour in the west and spicy north, sour in the west and spicy in the eastin the east””. .

Chinese Eight Regional Cuisines

Fujian

Tremella and quail eggs soup

peculiar about soup

Hunan

Yi xiang fish

Known for sour and spicy dishes

Shandong excellent seafood

Sea pumpkin

Sichuan Spicy-hot

Chicken with chili sauce

Guangdong

Fotiaoqiang

Delicacies

Anhui Jiangsu

large meatball

High cutting techniques Nutritious food

Tai bai fish

Zhejiang

Dong po Pork

light, crisp, elegant

Shandong CuisineShandong Cuisine

Shandong Shandong Cuisine, Cuisine, also also known as Lu Cai, known as Lu Cai, is famous for its is famous for its qualities of qualities of freshness, clear freshness, clear colors, colors, dedication to dedication to fragrance and fragrance and pure tastes.pure tastes.

Beijing Roast Duck

Beijing Roast duck is thought to be one of the most delicious Beijing Roast duck is thought to be one of the most delicious dishes all over the world; most visitors coming to Beijing will dishes all over the world; most visitors coming to Beijing will never forget to have a try.never forget to have a try.

Sichuan CuisineSichuan Cuisine

Sichuan Cuisine, Sichuan Cuisine, also known as also known as Chuan Cai, is Chuan Cai, is famous for its many famous for its many flavors, especially flavors, especially for its hot and for its hot and pungent flavoring.pungent flavoring.

Almost every dish Almost every dish has its own unique has its own unique taste.taste.

Guangdong CuisineGuangdong Cuisine

Guangdong CuisineGuangdong Cuisine is known as Yue Cai is known as Yue Cai (( 粤菜粤菜 ). Tasting ). Tasting clean, light, crisp clean, light, crisp and fresh.and fresh.

It usually has fowl It usually has fowl (( 家禽家禽 ) and other ) and other meats to produce meats to produce its unique dishes. its unique dishes.

Fujian CuisineFujian Cuisine

Fujian Cuisine, Fujian Cuisine, also also known as Min Cai, is known as Min Cai, is noted for its light taste noted for its light taste and sweet and sour and sweet and sour flavour. flavour.

The cooking puts great The cooking puts great emphasis on choosing the emphasis on choosing the choicest ingredients, and choicest ingredients, and is thus particularly apt in is thus particularly apt in preparing seafood dishes. preparing seafood dishes.

Jiangsu CuisineJiangsu Cuisine Jiangsu Cuisine, Jiangsu Cuisine, also also

known as Su Cai,known as Su Cai, has has characteristically sweet characteristically sweet taste. taste.

It preserves the foodIt preserves the food’’s s original flavor, while original flavor, while emphasizing strictly emphasizing strictly choice ingredients, choice ingredients, exquisite workmanship, exquisite workmanship, and elegant shapes. and elegant shapes.

Zhejiang CuisineZhejiang Cuisine Zhejiang Cuisine, Zhejiang Cuisine, also also

known as Zhe Cai, has known as Zhe Cai, has won a reputation for won a reputation for freshness, tenderness, freshness, tenderness, softness, and softness, and smoothness in its smoothness in its dishes with mellow dishes with mellow fragrance. fragrance.

Anhui CuisineAnhui Cuisine

Anhui Cuisine, Anhui Cuisine, also known as also known as Hui Cai, is highly Hui Cai, is highly distinctive not distinctive not only for its only for its elaborate choices elaborate choices of cooking of cooking ingredients but ingredients but also for its strict also for its strict control of the control of the cooking process. cooking process.

Hunan CuisineHunan Cuisine Hunan Cuisine, Hunan Cuisine,

also known as also known as Xiang Cai, is akin Xiang Cai, is akin to that of the chili-to that of the chili-rich Sichuan rich Sichuan dishes. dishes.

It is also It is also characterized by a characterized by a dense pungent dense pungent flavor. Chili, flavor. Chili, pepper and shallot pepper and shallot (( 葱葱 ) are necessities ) are necessities in this cuisine. in this cuisine.

Table MannersTable Manners

Arrangement of seatsArrangement of seats At a formal banquet, the host prepares At a formal banquet, the host prepares

adequate seating for the guests. For a adequate seating for the guests. For a large number of guests, the elderly or large number of guests, the elderly or people of high status are allocated people of high status are allocated specific seats. Special guests and the specific seats. Special guests and the elderly sit on the north side of the table elderly sit on the north side of the table or directly facing the entrance to the or directly facing the entrance to the room. The concept of room. The concept of ““honoured south, honoured south, humble northhumble north”” is closely related with is closely related with traditional Chinese etiquette.traditional Chinese etiquette.

Toasts Toasts Once the guests are seated, the host Once the guests are seated, the host

proposes a toast to the guests whilst saying, proposes a toast to the guests whilst saying, ““Drink first to show respectDrink first to show respect””(( 先干为敬先干为敬 ). Then ). Then the host and guests empty their glasses, the host and guests empty their glasses, which are refilled in readiness for the next of which are refilled in readiness for the next of many toasts. many toasts.

It is perfectly acceptable to have three toasts (tradIt is perfectly acceptable to have three toasts (traditionally signifying friendship) with the entire coitionally signifying friendship) with the entire company, rather than one separate toast for every inmpany, rather than one separate toast for every individual present. Some other toasts can be offered:dividual present. Some other toasts can be offered: ““Toast for your healthToast for your health””, , ““Toast tToast too our friendship our friendship””,, etc. etc.

The coursesThe courses

Serving order is from cold to hot. Hot Serving order is from cold to hot. Hot entrees (entrees ( 主菜主菜 ) ) should be served starting should be served starting on the left of the seat across from the on the left of the seat across from the main guests. The meal then begins with a main guests. The meal then begins with a set of at least four cold dishes followed set of at least four cold dishes followed by the main courses of hot meat and by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup is served next vegetable dishes. Soup is served next (unless in Guangdong style restaurant) (unless in Guangdong style restaurant) with the local staple food such as rice, with the local staple food such as rice, noodles and dumplings being served last. noodles and dumplings being served last.

Chinese chopsticksChinese chopsticks

The correct The correct holding of the holding of the chopsticks is to chopsticks is to grab the grab the chopsticks in the chopsticks in the middle, making middle, making sure that the sure that the ends are even. ends are even.

Chinese TeaChinese Tea

China has a rich China has a rich and sophisticated and sophisticated tea culture. The tea culture. The Chinese have a Chinese have a common saying, common saying, ““Seven things in Seven things in the house: the house: firewood, rice, firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar sauce, vinegar and teaand tea””. .

The art of tea making and The art of tea making and drinking evolved through the drinking evolved through the dynasties. It focuses on the dynasties. It focuses on the method of brewing tea, the method of brewing tea, the drinking utensils and the serving drinking utensils and the serving etiquette.etiquette.

Tea ClassificationTea Classification The five types are green tea (The five types are green tea ( 绿绿

茶茶 ), black tea (), black tea ( 红茶红茶 ), oolong tea ), oolong tea (( 乌龙茶乌龙茶 ), compressed tea (), compressed tea ( 砖茶砖茶 : : brick tea), and scented tea (brick tea), and scented tea ( 花花茶茶 ). Some minor types are white ). Some minor types are white tea and yellow tea.tea and yellow tea.

Green teaGreen tea is the is the most natural of all most natural of all Chinese teas. It Chinese teas. It refers to tea made refers to tea made without being without being fermented. Itfermented. It’’s s called green tea called green tea because the tea because the tea liquid and tea leaves liquid and tea leaves are greenish. About are greenish. About 50% of China's teas 50% of China's teas are green tea.are green tea.

Black teaBlack tea is fermented is fermented before baking. Itbefore baking. It’’s so s so named because the tea named because the tea liquid and tea leaves liquid and tea leaves are reddish black. It are reddish black. It tastes sweet and can tastes sweet and can facilitate the fostering facilitate the fostering of of yang yang energy in the energy in the human body and erase human body and erase the greasiness of the the greasiness of the stomach. stomach.

Oolong teaOolong tea sits half sits half way between green way between green tea and black tea in tea and black tea in the sense that it's the sense that it's half- fermented. half- fermented. Typical oolong tea Typical oolong tea leaves are green in leaves are green in the middle and red the middle and red on the edges as a on the edges as a result of the process result of the process to soften tea leaves. to soften tea leaves.

Compressed teaCompressed tea is made is made by compressing steamed by compressing steamed tea leaves into molds tea leaves into molds such as bricks, cakes, such as bricks, cakes, columns and other columns and other shapes. Most Chinese shapes. Most Chinese Compressed tea uses Compressed tea uses black tea as its base.black tea as its base. 　　Compressed tea can be Compressed tea can be stored for years or even stored for years or even decades. Aged decades. Aged Compressed tea has a Compressed tea has a gentle flavor. gentle flavor.

Chinese Chinese Scented teaScented tea is a unique class of is a unique class of Chinese tea. It is Chinese tea. It is made from fragrant made from fragrant flowers. It is flowers. It is subdivided into flower subdivided into flower tea and scented tea. tea and scented tea. Flower Tea is from Flower Tea is from dried flowers with dried flowers with little processing. little processing. Scented tea is a Scented tea is a mixture of green tea mixture of green tea with flower petals.with flower petals.

White teaWhite tea is non- is non-fermented, non-fermented, non-rubbed, non-rubbed, non-scented tea with scented tea with natural fragrance. natural fragrance. Famous varieties Famous varieties include Silver include Silver Needle (Needle ( 白毫银珍白毫银珍 ) ) and White Peony and White Peony (( 白牡丹白牡丹 ).).

Yellow TeaYellow Tea has has yellow leaves and yellow leaves and yellow tea colour. yellow tea colour. It's an It's an uncommon class uncommon class of Chinese tea. of Chinese tea. The flavor is mild The flavor is mild and refreshing.and refreshing.

Tea EtiquetteTea Etiquette Serving a cup of tea is more than Serving a cup of tea is more than

mere politeness. It is a symbol of mere politeness. It is a symbol of togetherness, a sharing of togetherness, a sharing of something enjoyable, and a way something enjoyable, and a way of showing respect to visitors. of showing respect to visitors. When offered tea, it is When offered tea, it is considered polite to at least take considered polite to at least take a sip.a sip.

To offer tea, ask for the To offer tea, ask for the preference of the guests before preference of the guests before making the tea. The water should making the tea. The water should not be too hot or it will scald the not be too hot or it will scald the guests. When you pour tea, the guests. When you pour tea, the rule of rule of ““full cup for wine and half full cup for wine and half cup for teacup for tea”” should be observed. should be observed.

Three Cups of Tea ( 三杯茶 ) of Bai Ethnic Group

Visitors are greeted with this warm Visitors are greeted with this warm and unique ceremony: they are offered and unique ceremony: they are offered three cups of tea. The first cup of tea three cups of tea. The first cup of tea is made from local bitter leaves. It is made from local bitter leaves. It tastes medicinal. The second looks like tastes medicinal. The second looks like soup. It is made from walnuts (soup. It is made from walnuts ( 核桃核桃 ), ), cheese and sugar. It tastes sweet. The cheese and sugar. It tastes sweet. The third cup of tea is made by mixing third cup of tea is made by mixing prickly ash, ginger and Chinese prickly ash, ginger and Chinese cinnamon (cinnamon ( 肉桂肉桂 ) with honey and bitter ) with honey and bitter tea. It is pungent, with a distinct tea. It is pungent, with a distinct aftertaste.aftertaste.

What does the three cups What does the three cups of tea symbolize?of tea symbolize?

The three cups of tea are The three cups of tea are symbolic of the three stages of symbolic of the three stages of oneone’’s life journey: going through s life journey: going through all kinds of hardships, feeling the all kinds of hardships, feeling the joy of life, and recalling both joy of life, and recalling both bitter and happy experience. (bitter and happy experience. ( 先先苦后甜三回味苦后甜三回味 ))

Chinese WineChinese Wine

Wine has a long history in China Wine has a long history in China and plays an important part in and plays an important part in the life of Chinese people. It is the life of Chinese people. It is comparable with such daily comparable with such daily necessities as rice, salt, oil and necessities as rice, salt, oil and water. water.

Wine Feasts Wine Feasts ““Marriage wine feastsMarriage wine feasts”” ““Arm-crossed wineArm-crossed wine”” ““Month-old wine feastsMonth-old wine feasts”” ““Hundredth-day wine feastsHundredth-day wine feasts”” ““Longevity wine feastsLongevity wine feasts”” ““Beam-placed-on-the-roof wine Beam-placed-on-the-roof wine

feastfeast”” ……....

Drinkers’ Wager GameDrinkers’ Wager Game Drinkers’ wager game is a particular Drinkers’ wager game is a particular

method in China to help create more method in China to help create more joyous atmosphere while drinking. joyous atmosphere while drinking. In general, the drinkers’ wager In general, the drinkers’ wager game is used as a penalty to urge game is used as a penalty to urge drinkers to drink more, but the chief drinkers to drink more, but the chief purpose of the drinkers’ wager game purpose of the drinkers’ wager game is to create a more cheerful is to create a more cheerful atmosphere.atmosphere.

General gamesGeneral games Ladies attending Ladies attending

banquets may play banquets may play general games such general games such as telling jokes, as telling jokes, solving riddles and solving riddles and passing down a passing down a flower to the beats of flower to the beats of a drum (a drum ( 击鼓传花击鼓传花 ).).

Literary gamesLiterary games are are more popular with more popular with scholars and scholars and intellectuals, since intellectuals, since their education their education equips them with the equips them with the knowledge to knowledge to compete. They play it compete. They play it by composing poems, by composing poems, solving word puzzles solving word puzzles and guessing riddles. and guessing riddles.

Contestant gameContestant game Archery, arrow Archery, arrow pitching, chess, dice pitching, chess, dice throwingthrowing (( 掷骰子掷骰子 ), ), finger guessing and finger guessing and animal betting are animal betting are contest games. contest games.

TouhuTouhu (( 投壶投壶 ) is an ) is an ancient banquet game ancient banquet game where the host and where the host and guests throw chips guests throw chips (( 筹筹 )) into a pot. The into a pot. The winner is the one with winner is the one with the greatest number of the greatest number of chips thrown in, and chips thrown in, and the loser is required to the loser is required to drink as a forfeit.drink as a forfeit.

Alcohol and Social Alcohol and Social ActivitiesActivities

Alcohol and ArtsAlcohol and Arts Alcohol drinks, more than any other Alcohol drinks, more than any other

beverages, has had a great impact beverages, has had a great impact on Chinese artists as it seems that on Chinese artists as it seems that many of them have produced their many of them have produced their best masterpieces in a state of best masterpieces in a state of drunkenness. After drinking the drunkenness. After drinking the mysterious liquid, many famous mysterious liquid, many famous poets, such as Li Bai andpoets, such as Li Bai and Du Fu, left Du Fu, left us many masterpieces.us many masterpieces.

山中与幽人对酌山中与幽人对酌

李 白李 白

两人对酌山花开，两人对酌山花开，一杯一杯复一杯。一杯一杯复一杯。我醉欲眠卿且去，我醉欲眠卿且去，明朝有意抱琴来。明朝有意抱琴来。

Alcohol and BusinessAlcohol and Business In China, alcohol plays an integral In China, alcohol plays an integral

role in social life. Drinking role in social life. Drinking effectively serves to deepen and effectively serves to deepen and strengthen the bonds of friendship. strengthen the bonds of friendship. Drinking is always used as a way to Drinking is always used as a way to relieve misunderstanding and relieve misunderstanding and animosity no matter how tense the animosity no matter how tense the situation is. situation is.

Alcohol and HealthAlcohol and Health Chinese people believe that Chinese people believe that

moderate drinking is good for moderate drinking is good for their health. Many Chinese do their health. Many Chinese do sip a little alcohol periodically to sip a little alcohol periodically to maintain their vitality and maintain their vitality and health. Some even soak health. Some even soak traditional Chinese medicine in traditional Chinese medicine in liquor to achieve a better effect. liquor to achieve a better effect.

DonDon’’t Drive after Drunkt Drive after Drunk

DiscussionDiscussion

Among the Chinese Among the Chinese ““Eight Eight Regional CuisinesRegional Cuisines””, which one do , which one do you like most? Why?you like most? Why?