Forget about the traditional takeaway boxes and Chinese cuisine prepared in the West.
True Chinese cuisine is as diverse and varied as the country itself, and is a reflection of its many thousands of years of history and culture. For curious travelers, a trip to China would not be complete without tasting the diverse flavors of its world-famous cuisine.
Traditional Chinese food is a delicate— almost artistic— balance of sweet, sour, salty, spicy and bitter. Each of your senses will come alive with every dish you sample. From the famous Peking duck to dumplings, noodles and lesser-known Tibetan delicacies, in this article we look at the 12 best foods from China’s most beloved cities: get ready to taste the 12 best foods in China!
12 BEST FOODS TO TRY IN BEIJING
1. Peking duck (Beijing roast duck)
Peking duck has been prepared since the imperial era and is considered a national symbol of China
Roast duck, a famously Chinese dish and definitely considered one of the best foods in China, is a must-taste when on a tour in Beijing. Each duck is prepared by pumping air between the skin and meat before adding a glaze to the duck’s skin. The duck is then roasted with distinct tree branches, such as pear or date, for a fruity flavor.
2. Shuan yangrou (Beijing mutton hot pot)
Hot pot became popular among the emperors in China during the Qing dynasty
The absolute best dish to eat during a Beijing winter is a soothing hot pot. This ancient dish is made by cooking mutton and various other meats, vegetables and sauces using soups inside copper or aluminum pots. The sauce, usually a mixture of sesame seed oil, chili oil, flowers from the Chinese chive and minced scallion, plays a very important role in the flavor of the dish.
3. Braised jumbo sea cucumber with shrimp roe
Only around 40 varieties (out of more than 1700!) of sea cucumber are used for cooking. Photo by Idalingi [CC BY 2.0]
This seafood delicacy is certainly an interesting dish to try during a trip to Shanghai. The sea cucumber is prepared by soaking it in clean water to soften the inside. Then it is cooked in a stew rich with flavors including soybean sauce, shallot and shrimp roe.
4. Yangchun mian (Yangchun noodles)
This seemingly simple but stunningly delicious dish is a tasty mix of thin noodles broth and seasoning that includes soy sauce, finely chopped green onions and lard. In our opinion, it is one of the best foods in Shanghai. The broth is heated and poured into the bowl with the seasoning while the noodles cook in boiling water. The broth and noodles are placed inside the bowl ready to eat while still hot.
5. Liang pi (cold noodles)
Liang pi literally means ‘cold skin’ even though it contains no animal products
For an interesting mesh of flavors, try this staple cold noodle dish on your Xian trip. The noodles are made from wheat or rice flour and the sauce combines flavors that are both tangy and sweet. To make the noodles, the flour is first cooked into a pancake and then sliced into strips, unlike typical noodles.
6. Rou Jia Mo (Shaanxi sandwich)
The meat used in Shaanxi sandwich is usually pork that has been stewed for hours in a soup containing over 20 spices and seasonings
This recipe, one of Xian’s best foods, combines pork belly cooked with soy sauce and many spices and wheat bread. Once the pork belly is cooked and soaked in the sauces, it is placed inside the bread to eat like a traditional burger. Alternatively, beef or lamb can be used as the meat for the sandwich.
7. Mapo doufu
Mapo doufu can also be found in restaurants in other Chinese provinces, as well as, in Japan and Korea where the flavor is adapted to local tastes
Mapo doufu, popularly known as mapo tofu, is a must-try dish for anyone on a tour in Chengdu. This iconic dish is prepared by mixing pieces of tofu with pork, bean curd, mince, and an often incredibly spicy chili oil. The tofu is cooked under a slow fire to ensure it has an intense (and very tasty!) flavor.
8. Kung pao chicken
Kung pao chicken, a classic dish that originated in Sichuan province, China is also a prominent dish in westernized Chinese cuisine
Another often spicy dish and native to Chengdu, kung pao chicken is prepared by stir-frying diced chicken with peanuts, chili pepper, chili oil and Sichuan peppercorns, kung pao chicken tops the list of the best foods in Chengdu. The chicken is cut into small cubes and seasoned with soy sauce, salt and cooking oil. The chicken cubes cook in the pan until changing color and the chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns and peanuts are then added to the pan.
9. Mifen (Guilin rice noodles)
Mifen is so popular that it can probably be found within 100 meters of any town or city area in Guilin, China. Photo by Gary Stevens [CC BY 2.0]
This popular snack and one of the best foods in Guilin can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Apart from being relatively cheap, it is also found all over the city. The rice noodles, also known as mifen, are made from rice flour starch and are topped with a variety of meat, eggs, vegetables, gravy and a unique broth for a sour or spicy taste.
10. Zongzi (Chestnut glutinous rice dumplings)
The shapes of zongzi vary by region
These dumplings, popular in Guilin, are made by combining glutinous rice and chestnuts with delicious fillings such as pork belly, mushrooms, shrimp and sausage. The glutinous rice and fillings are stir-fried separately before wrapping them together with bamboo leaves. The bamboo leaves are made into a cone shape, tied with grass strands and either steamed or boiled.
11. Yak jerky
When you visit Tibet, yak jerky is a must-try! The meat provides an extremely nutritious, low-fat and flavorful meal. Yak meat is cut into strips, seasoned and hung out to air dry to make Yak jerky. It is normally eaten dried or boiled but is sometimes eaten raw.
12. Tingmo (Tibetan steamed stuffed buns)
Steamed buns, a local Tibetan dish, are savory, spongy and slightly chewy. Photo by Veronica [CC BY-NC 2.0]
Travelers on a tour to Tibet should make sure to try tingmo (also known as ting momo) easily our pick as one of the best Tibetan foods. Wheat flour and water are mixed together to create the dough, which is then filled with a combination of ground meat, vegetables, cheese and/or tofu.
One of the best things to do in China is sampling the most delicious dishes each city has to offer. Each city has its own gastronomic style and visiting each destination is the only way to taste all the best foods in China. You will discover many other recipes during your trip but start with these 12 to kickstart your Chinese foodie experience!
Source: https://www.bookmundi.com
