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Food in China
Forget what you think Chinese food is. The Westernised impressions of Chinese dishes can be questionable at times, and just plain wrong at others. Chinese food includes a large variety of ingredients and its flavours have spread to countries all over the world, making it one of the most popular cuisines on earth. Most Chinese food contains 5 key flavours that balance the meal according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. These are sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy. The flavours used varies depending on the region you are in, for example Hong Kong uses a lot of sweet and savoury. One thing that often shocks Westerners is the idea that people in China eat almost everything. Feet, ears, hearts, you name it and they probably put it on a plate. One thing’s for sure, a holiday to China will open your eyes when it comes to food of the world.
Vegetarian and vegan choices are available in China, but mostly in the larger cities where you can find restuarants of every type. China uses a lot of fish sauce and shrimp paste, and often dishes that are labelled vegetarian still include this. An excellent website to use on your travels is Happy Cow.
Food Culture & Etiquette in China
Food is a huge part of Chinese culture. Many celebrations and family gatherings are centred around food and with such a long history, China has developed a unique dining culture. Seating arrangements are important, and you should never take a seat at the table before the host has. When it comes to eating, wait until the eldest member of the table has started or announced that it’s time to eat, otherwise you will be seen as rude and cause an uncomfortable situation.
Most Chinese meals are centred around a few dishes including rice, noodles, soups, meats and vegetables. If you are visiting China and are unsure how to use chopsticks - now is the time to learn. Every meal will be served with chopsticks. Sometimes a fork and spoon is also available but we do recommend immersing yourself in the culture and doing as the locals do. Knives are seen as violent and therefore are not normally on the dinner table.
Fortune cookies might be a popular snack in Chinese restaurants throughout the world, but they aren't actually all that common in China. They were supposedly invented by the Japanese and then made popular in America. While you can definitely still find them in tourist areas, they are not a part of standard Chinese food culture.
Typical Chinese Dishes
Rice
Rice is probably the most important food in China. It’s eaten every day, with different meals and in different ways. Most meals will come with a small bowl of rice.
Sweet and Sour Pork
This bright orange dish has a delicious and tangy sweet and sour taste. While traditionally it was made with pork, you can now find this dish with chicken or beef.
Kung Pao Chicken
This classic Chinese meal contains chopped chicken, vegetables, chili and peanuts. It originates from the Sichuan Province, with Sichuan peppercorns giving it that extra punch. You can find regional varieties with some less spicy than others.
Dumplings
Chinese dumplings are a favourite amongst locals and travellers alike and have an impressive history of some 1800 years. Popular fillings include shrimp, ground chicken, beef and chopped vegetables. They are carefully wrapped into thin dough and either boiled, steamed or fried, and then served with a dipping sauce. They are one of the traditional meals eaten during Chinese New Year celebrations.
Other popular Chinese dishes
Chinese Steamed Buns
Soft, fluffy buns filled with a delicious centre, these make for perfect snacks on the go. Stuffed with either savoury fillings or custard, steamed buns are a light and tasty dish to try in China.
Chow Mein
Chow Mein is a stir fried noodle dish, popular both in China and all over the world. Egg noodles are tossed with chicken, beef or shrimp and topped with vegetables. It’s seasoned with soy sauce and ginger.
Peking Roasted Duck
Considered one of China’s national dishes, peking duck is popular for its thin and crispy skin. It’s normally sliced and served in sweet bean sauce, with spring onions rolled into a thin pancake.
Vegetarian Chinese Dishes
While it is possible to find good vegetarian options in China, don't assume that a tofu or vegetable dish won't contain meat stock or fish sauce. Either carry translation cards or ask your guide to translate for you.
Vegetable Dumplings
Similar to traditional Chinese dumplings except these are full of fresh vegetables and omit the meat. They can also be steamed, boiled or fried.
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Crispy spring rolls are normally served as an appetizer or side dish in China. These are stuffed with vegetables and bean sprouts and deep fried then served with a dipping sauce.
Vegetable Fried Rice
A classic option, fried rice contains rice tossed with vegetables, eggs and herbs. It is found in restaurants all over China and an easy option when there is little else.
Chinese Desserts
Sticky Rice Cakes
Glutinous rice is mixed with brown sugar to create this simple, sweet treat. They are popular around Chinese New Year and are thought to bring people luck for the coming year. You can find them pre-made in local convenience stores or served fresh in restaurants.
Mooncakes
Mooncakes are sweet pastries which are traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is when moon watching would take place. They can contain fillings such as lotus seed paste, red bean paste or ice cream, but traditionally also contain salted duck egg. It’s served in smaller slices, often with tea.
Steamed Milk Pudding
This sweet and silky dessert is made using milk, egg white and sugar, creating a dish similar to a creme brulee, without the sugar crusted top. Some variations have red bean paste added in or extra toppings.
Unsual food in China
China might even be more popular for the unusual foods that you can find. It’s the largest consumer of dog meat, a taboo in many Western countries and current source of controversy for China. It’s mostly found in rural China, but can be found in restaurants all over the country so always ensure you have the correct translation if you want to avoid it. In developed cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, dog ownership is popular and they are seen as a member of the family so it's slowly becoming less common here. Other unusual food you might come across include bird’s nest soup, chicken testicles, scorpions, century egg and balut, a developing duck embryo that’s boiled and then eaten in the shell.
Did you know?
The century egg is a preserved product and delicacy in China. It's made by preserving duck, chicken or quail eggs in a mixture of salt, clay and ash for several weeks.
Drinks in China
Pearl Milk Tea
Originally from Taiwan, bubble tea was made popular by the younger generations of Southeast Asia. China is no different, and you’ll find an abundance of bubble tea stores throughout the cities. Tapioca, jelly like bubbles are added to a sweet milky tea and come in a variety of flavours.
Chinese Green Tea
Traditionally, Chinese green tea is made using dried tea leaves which come in a variety of floral flavours. It’s consumed at any time of day, but mostly served after dinner to help aid digestion.
Soybean Milk
Soybean milk is popular all over China and has been around for centuries. It's sold at markets, in convenience stores and cafes. You can find different flavours to try and it's often sweetened using cane sugar.
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