Wednesday, November 13
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A Guide to Chinese Food Culture

Chinese food culture

Chinese food culture is rich, to say the least, it includes cuisines from both different regions of China to variants of these cuisines. People of Chinese origin, living in other parts of the world, often customize their kitchen to suit the host country – for good or evil. As is usually the kitchen is divided into several main groups.

The history of Chinese cuisine

The history of Chinese cuisine goes back thousands of years. The influence comes from, for example, climate change, local preferences and not forgetting – imperial fashion.

The phenomenon that kitchens from other countries are inspired and influenced by different techniques and ingredients over time, of course, also applies to Chinese cuisine. Chinese cuisine has historically evolved both from the geographical extent of the Chinese Empire and from the Empire’s trade with neighboring regions. Something that is characteristic even in the present – trade with both Europe but also global trade leaves its mark.

What can be said to define Chinese food culture? Class, ethnic background as well as region is what also defines the different styles and taste preferences of Chinese cuisine. The diversity of Chinese cuisine in terms of both ingredients and cooking techniques is unparalleled in other cuisines. Chinese food culture

Among the four most common groupings, the first division into the North Chinese, which is basically wheat and the South Chinese cuisine, is based on rice. Between the two kitchens, there is also a significant difference in which locally grown vegetables you have access to. The Chinese kitchen staples are rice, different kinds of noodles, vegetables and spices, and different kinds of sauces.

Then follows the division into the four kitchens: Lu (Shandong), Chuan (Sichuan), Yang (Jiangsu) and Yue (Guangdong), so-called provincial schools, however, they include a much larger geographical area.

The four kitchens today include Xiang (Hunan), Min (Fujian), Hui (Anhui) and Zhe (Zhejiang) under the concept of the eight kitchens.

Nowadays people have also added food from Beijing and Shanghai – thus they talk about the ten kitchens: the eight, plus food from Beijing and Shanghai.

Outside of China you will find different prominent styles of culinary Chinese cuisine. These include Chinese kitchens from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and America.

Believe it or not, there are Chinese kitchens wherever in the world Chinese put down their abodes.

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