What to Eat in China: Typical Dishes of Chinese Cuisine
What to eat in China? If you think that Chinese cuisine is limited to spring rolls, fried rice, and almond chicken, you are mistaken—very mistaken. Chinese gastronomy is vast and incredibly delicious! During our eight-month journey in this magnificent country, we discovered that the culinary experience goes far beyond noodles and rice with tiny pieces of meat; it transforms into a delightful exploration of flavors, textures, and aromas.
In China, eating is not merely a means of sustenance; it is an art, a celebration. The portions are generous, designed for sharing, which means multiple dishes are ordered to sample a variety of tastes. Oh, how we love to eat!
The immense territory of China boasts a diverse array of ingredients and culinary styles. To put it in perspective, China is roughly as large as Europe or the United States! Imagine the rich culinary tradition that emerges from such diversity, akin to a blend of Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, Irish cuisines, and more. It is a culinary kaleidoscope!
To summarize, we can identify four major styles of Chinese cuisine:
- The Northern School: Here, wheat predominates over rice, resulting in various types of pancakes, dumplings, and noodles. Cooking methods include slow-roasting and stewing rather than stir-frying.
- The Western School: Known for its bold flavors, this style employs many spices, creating a delightful balance between sweet and sour. Deep-frying is common, allowing for crispy textures.
- The Eastern School: Rice reigns supreme, complemented by vegetables, meat, and seafood. Cooking is characterized by fine chopping, vibrant color combinations, and the frequent use of soy sauce.
- The Southern School: Also known as Cantonese cuisine, this style focuses on stir-frying and steaming, often prioritizing vegetables and seafood over meat. Historically, inland Chinese criticized coastal neighbors for their adventurous eating habits, claiming they would eat anything that flew (except airplanes) or swam (except boats).
We could discuss countless other aspects of Chinese cuisine, but let’s dive into our personal experiences with the food that captivated our taste buds.
Familiar Flavors
While we mentioned that fried rice and noodles are not as common as one might expect, they still exist in abundance!
A New Entry into Culinary Delight
Having just come from the Philippines, where meat portions are served in tiny bites that might leave even a garden gnome hungry, we were utterly amazed by the gigantic meat servings in China. We felt as if we had stepped into a feast fit for giants!
Chicken, beef, lamb, duck—each dish comes with a myriad of sauces (soy, spicy, sweet and sour, oyster, garlic, and vegetable-based). It was like being a child on Christmas morning at every meal (thankfully, all the walking in China helped us avoid gaining 5 kg).
The Unknown Delicacies
There were plenty of things we encountered that left us puzzled. What could this be? And that? Many mysteries lay within this cuisine, such as the typical breakfast we received in Pingyao. The best approach is to be fearless—ask for whatever catches your eye or point to a dish on another table that looks appetizing.
The Dumpling Craze
What we loved the most were dumplings—those delightful little pockets, ravioli, or, as we like to call them, culinary wonders that deserve UNESCO recognition. Boiled, steamed, fried, vegetarian, filled with pork, beef, or chicken, round or triangular—I want them all! Seriously, ALL of them!
Our enthusiasm for dumplings led my favorite cook (who also happens to be my boyfriend) to prepare some delicious dumplings for me one night, literally with his hands in the dough!
Strange Local Delicacies
Admittedly, there are some peculiar dishes that are common in Chinese life.
Tourist Curiosities
And let’s not forget the exotic edibles, which we primarily encountered at tourist markets. Locals were munching on various critters that we dared not try. It must be a delicacy reserved for special occasions; since we had no weddings, baptisms, or festive celebrations, we passed on these adventurous bites… maybe next time!
And Much More
We sampled an array of vegetables, buns, sweets, and seafood during our travels, but this is merely a snapshot of what Chinese gastronomy has to offer. There are thousands of dishes yet to discover, and our desire to explore remains insatiable! Who knows what culinary treasures await behind the next corner?
Doesn’t everything look delicious? (Okay, perhaps except the packaged chicken feet!). Do you know of any other must-try dishes in China that we might have overlooked?
For a deeper dive into the world of Chinese cuisine, check out this informative video:
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