Composition and Regional Characteristics of Chinese Cuisine
Chinese cuisine is widely seen as representing one of the richest and most diverse culinary cuisines and heritages in the world. Originating from different regions of China Chinese cuisine has become widespread in many other parts of the world.
A meal in Chinese culture is typically seen as consisting of two or more general components: a carbohydrate (source for starch) known as zhushi (main food, staple) in the Chinese language—typically rice, noodles, or mantou (steamed buns), and accompanying dishes of vegetables, meat, fish, or other items, known as cai (dish) in the Chinese language. This cultural conceptualization is in some ways in contrast to cuisines of Northern Europe and the USA, where meat or animal protein is often considered the main food.
Rice is a critical part of much of Chinese cuisine. However, in many parts of China, particularly northern China, wheat-based products including noodles and steamed buns predominate. Despite the importance of rice in Chinese cuisine, at formal occasions, it is the case that no rice at all will be served; in such a case, rice would only be provided when no other dishes remained, or as a token dish at the end of the meal. Soup is usually served at the end of a meal. However, in southern China it is more often served at the start of a meal.
Eating Utensils and Food Preparation Style
Chopsticks are the primary eating utensil in Chinese culture for solid foods, while soups and other liquids are enjoyed with a wide, flat-bottomed spoon. Wooden chopsticks are losing their dominance due to recent logging shortfalls in China and East Asia; many Chinese eating establishments are considering a switch to a more environmentally sustainable eating utensil, such as plastic or bamboo chopsticks. Disposable chopsticks made of wood or bamboo have all but replaced reusable ones in small restaurants.
In most dishes in Chinese cuisine, food is prepared in bite- sized pieces ready for direct picking up and eating. Traditionally, Chinese culture considered using knives and forks at the table “barbaric” due to the fact that these implements are regarded as weapons. It was also considered ungracious to have guests work at cutting their own food. Fish are usually cooked and served whole, with diners directly pulling pieces from the fish with chopsticks to eat, unlike in some other cuisines where they are first filleted. This is because it is desired for fish to be served as fresh as possible.
Dining Customs and Vegetarian Culture
In a Chinese meal, each individual diner is given his or her own bowl of rice while the accompanying dishes are served in communal; plates (or bowls) that are shared by everyone sitting at the table. In the Chinese meal, each diner picks food out of the communal plates on a bite-by-bite basis with their chopsticks. This is in contrast to western meals where it is customary to dole out individual servings of the dishes at the beginning of the meal. Many non-Chinese are uncomfortable with allowing a persons individual utensils (which might have traces of saliva) to touch the communal plates; for this hygienic reason, additional serving spoons or chopsticks (public chopsticks) may be made available.
Vegetarianism is not uncommon or unusual in China. The Chinese vegetarian does not eat a lot of tofu, unlike the stereotypical impression in the West. Most Chinese vegetarians are Buddhists. Chinese Buddhist cuisine has many true vegetarian dishes that contain no meat at all.
Desserts, Beverages and Their Cultural Significance
A sweet dish is usually served at the end of a formal dinner, such as sliced fruits or a sweet soup which is served warm.
In traditional Chinese culture, cold beverages are believed to be harmful to the digestion of hot food, so items like ice-cold water or soft drinks are traditionally not served at meal-time. Besides soup, if any other beverages are served, they would most likely be hot tea or hot water. Tea is believed to help in the digestion of greasy foods.
Symbolic Meanings of Common Foods
Noodles are the symbol of longevity in Chinese culture. They are as much a part of Chinese birthday celebrations as a birthday cake with lit candles is in many countries, so that youngsters or seniors all will have a bowl of Long Life Noodle in the expectation of a healthy life. Since noodles do symbolize long life, it is considered very unlucky to cut up a strand.
Eggs hold a special symbolic significance in many cultures, and China is no exception. The Chinese believe eggs symbolize fertility. After a baby is born, parents may hold a red egg and ginger party, where they serve round hard-boiled eggs to announce the birth. Egg rolls or spring rolls resemble the shape of a gold bar, and thus are often served on the New Year as a symbol of wealth and prosperity in the coming year.
Fish also play a large role in festive celebrations. The Chinese word for fish “Yu” sounds like the homophonic words both for wish and abundance. As a result, on New Year’s Eve it is customary to serve a fish for dinner, symbolizing the wish for accumulations of prosperity and wealth in the coming year. In addition, the fish is served whole, with the head and the tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year.
Symbolism in Special Occasions
Ducks represent fidelity in Chinese culture. If you are ever invited to a Chinese wedding banquet, don’t be surprised to spot a mouthwatering platter of Peking duck on the banquet table. Also, red dishes are featured at weddings as red is the color of happiness. (You may find them served at New Year’s banquets for the same reason.)
Chicken forms part of the symbolism of the dragon and phoenix in Chinese culture. At a Chinese wedding, chicken’s feet, referred to as phoenix feet, are often served with “dragon foods” such as lobster. Chicken is also popular at Chinese New Year, symbolizing a good marriage and the coming together of families, and serving the bird whole emphasizes family unity.
Seeds—lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc.—represent bearing many children in Chinese culture. There are other foods, snacks and fruits which symbolize good wishes under special circumstances, including dried bean curd, black moss seaweed, peanuts, pomelos and oranges.
