China & Tibet Food and Drink
China - Food
Cuisine in China is heavily influenced by geography and differs by region. There are eight culinary traditions in China, they are: Szechuan, Anhui, Shangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Cantonese, Hunan and Zhejiang.
Szechuan originated in the Sichuan province of southwestern China. This style of cuisine is known for bold flavours and spiciness. Notable dishes include: Kung Pao chicken, Tea smoked duck and twice cooked pork.
Anhui is styled after cooking methods found in the Huangshuan Mountains. Food cooked there relies heavily on local herbs and vegetables. Notable dishes include: Luzhou roast duck, Sanhe shrimp paste and egg dumplings.
Shangdong is also known as Lu. This cooking style uses a variety of methods and due to its coastal location, Shangdong cuisine utilises seafood often. Notable dishes include: Baochao yoahua - stirfried pig’s kidney, Basi digua - sweet potato with caramelized sugar and braised abalone.
Fujian cuisine comes from the Fujian coastal region. Interestingly, slicing techniques are very important to this style of cooking and helps to enhance the flavour, aroma and texture of seafood. Notable dishes include: oyster omelette, Bian mian - flat shaped egg noodle soup and Dopiah - a crepe with bean sauce or soy sauce filling.
Jiangsu cuisine is a combination of Yangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhon and Zhenjiang dishes. Soup is very important to this style of cooking, so too is choosing ingredients based on seasons. Notable dishes include: braised spare ribs, fried gluten balls and Ji-yu soup - made up of freshwater fish in a milky white soup.
Cantonese cuisine is from the Guangdong province in Southern China (this is usually the type of Chinese food that is served in Western countries). Notable dishes include: Dim-sum - small portions of food served in steamer baskets (ie dumplings and rice noodle rolls), sweet and sour pork and wonton noodles.
Hunan cuisine is found in the Xiang River region, Dongting Lake and the western Hunan province and known for being hot and spicy and for its aroma. Notable dishes include: beer duck, Changsha-style rice vermicelli and General Tso’s chicken.
Zhejiang region cuisine is known for being fresh with light scents. Notable dishes include: Dongpo pork - fried pork belly stewed in soy sauce and wine, West Lake fish in vinegar and hairy crabs.
China - Drink
China was the earliest country to cultivate and drink tea and it remains a popular beverage to this day. China is the world’s largest exporter of green tea, however oolong tea, scented tea, black tea, white tea and compressed tea are also popular. There are many breweries in China but many tend to sell only to the region in which they are located. Tsingtao Beer is the best selling beer in the country and is also the most widely exported.
Things to Know:
There is no minimum drinking age in China, however the sale of liquor is restricted to 18 years of age. Tipping is becoming more common in China especially in tourist regions and with guides. Hotels or restaurants made apply a service charge.
Tibet - Food
Tibetan cuisine has been influenced greatly by India, however, it frequently makes use of ingredients that are native to the mountains. While most other Himalayan cultures tend to eat with their hands, people in Tibet use bamboo chopsticks. Some of the larger cities have begun to expand in regards to food by offering Szechuan style Chinese food.
Popular dishes include:
Momos: these steamed or fried dumplings can be filled with vegetables or with yak meat.
Tsampa: this is roasted barley flour that is often served for breakfast after being mixed with butter tea and flavoured with sugar, milk or yoghurt. Tsampa is a staple in Tibetan cuisine.
Thukpa: a noodle soup with meat and vegetables.
Yak yoghurt, butter and cheese are frequently used in Tibetan food.
Tibet - Drink
Yak butter tea is the most popular drink within Tibet. Regarding alcoholic drinks, Chiang is a beer made from barley and Pinjopo is a rice wine.
Things to Know:
Tipping is not generally expected, however 10% is an appreciated amount especially in tourist areas.
China and Tibet Travel Information
At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy to navigate travel information section dedicated to China.
Learn about the history and culture of China, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about China's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering China for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our China tours today!
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