Traditions and basic principles of food consumption in China

Most of the traditions in Chinese culture are related to food consumption. Many treatises have been prepared not only on the process of cooking, but also on the intricacies of combining ingredients, proper serving, and food etiquette. The tea ceremony alone is worthy of mention! But this is only the most obvious example. The culture of food consumption in China is much deeper and more diverse.

How the meal goes

The Chinese welcome moderation and variety. The usual meal is a lot of different dishes, but in small portions. According to the etiquette, you can’t eat just one thing, you have to try a little bit of everything. And at the end, you must drink a cup of tea.

The basic rules of table etiquette are worth highlighting:

• Regardless of the number of people at the table, an even number of dishes are served (except for funerals);
• Only the eldest family member, an important guest or the owner of the house can start the meal, and it is he who decides who gets the very last (and usually the most delicious) bite;
• you can’t refuse the offered dish, just try it a little or just leave it on your plate;
• chopsticks should not be used as a substitute for a fork, they should not be stuck in food, placed crosswise on a plate, and they should not be used to take food from a shared plate, there are separate utensils for this.

Special attention is paid to the process of eating fish served whole. It is forbidden to turn it over so that the bones do not get in the way, just remove them. Otherwise, you will bring trouble to the house, according to Chinese signs.

Harmony in everything

When eating Chinese dishes, you should be prepared that you will not find dishes of different textures on the same table. Soft mashed potatoes and a tough chop with a vegetable salad are found exclusively among Europeans, while the Chinese are more accustomed to serving the opposite. The products will match not only in terms of cooking method – only fried or only steamed – but also in color. This is how harmony is achieved.

At the same time, not everyone is able to thoroughly know the composition of a dish by taste. Each hostess uses her own bouquet of spices, her own secret ingredient, so that guests cannot guess what is being served. All the ingredients are mixed to create amazing and unique combinations, as the Chinese value harmony above all.

The variety of Chinese dishes is mostly based on the use of seasonal products. Depending on the season, you can eat vegetables, fruits, fish, etc. It is worth considering these and many other points if you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Chinese philosophy and traditions.