The dietary customs of Shanxi people are very unique in the northern region. The special economy, geography, human environment and other factors have formed Shanxi's unique pasta culture, which has given birth to Shanxi people's special dietary customs.

Love spaghetti and soup at the same time.

Shanxi people like pasta, especially soup. This habit has a long history. Except for some places in the south of Shanxi, most residents are like this. Most parts of Shanxi have been dry and windy for many years. The people "work at sunrise and rest at sunset" and are naked. The so-called "facing the loess and facing the sky" and "the beads of sweat fall off eight petals" are hard, and there are few conditions for drinking water and tea. Eating depends on soup. Moreover, Shanxi people used to eat very little food, all of which were salt and vinegar. The taste was obviously partial and they needed a lot of water physically, which formed the custom of drinking soup. There is a saying in Shanxi folk; "Drink soup first, and you won't get hurt all your life." Drinking noodle soup after eating noodles is the most prominent eating habit of Shanxi residents. "Original soup becomes original grain" is said to be an old saying of traditional diet. Many farmers have passed it down from generation to generation, and this custom has been maintained to this day.

I like salt and vinegar, and I also like spicy food.

Shanxi folk love the habit of eating salt and vinegar, which has a long history and a wide geographical area. This is directly related to the local soil and water characteristics, natural climate and the living conditions of most people who are mainly miscellaneous grains. For example, the poor watch is seasoned with salt and vinegar; After hard work, the body needs a lot of salt. As we all know, vinegar is widely used in Shanxi folk meals. Shanxi is "hard in water", that is, it is strong in alkalinity. Shanxi people are mainly coarse grains, such as sorghum and oatmeal, which are not easy to digest and need vinegar to neutralize and help digestion. Vinegar has high nutritional value and certain dietotherapy effect. Almost all parts of Shanxi have their own famous vinegar, among which "Shanxi mature vinegar" has the best taste and can be called a good seasoning.

Shanxi folk also use a lot of salt in their daily diet. There is a folk saying that "salty and fragrant, no salt and no fragrance", and there is a folk saying that "a clever tongue is inseparable from money, and five flavors cannot be reconciled without salt." People value salt. Shanxi folk like to eat heavy-flavored food, which is also reflected in the side dishes. On the table of ordinary farmers, there are often one or two pickles or sauerkraut to accompany the meal. In a family of four or five people, it is common to eat one or two large pieces of pickles or five or six pickled cucumbers at a meal. Sauerkraut should be mixed in a whole basin. As a "topping", some places even combine it with rice, which is a special dietary custom. In the past, there were no fresh vegetables in winter and spring, and there was no means to keep them fresh. All the dishes are served with pickles and sauerkraut. All kinds of pickles and sauerkraut are almost necessities for Shanxi people all the year round. The habit of Shanxi people eating "heavy" food has not changed much so far.

In addition to salt and vinegar, people have always regarded green onions, leeks, peppers, garlic, peppers and even ginger as essential side dishes and cooking condiments. Residents in north-central China have the habit of eating directly with green onions and garlic. It is more common to chop up peppers and eat them with salt and vinegar. In some places, even every meal is inseparable from Chili noodles, which are mixed with salt to make side dishes. Eating spicy food is very common in southern Shanxi, and residents in Pingyao, Jiexiu, Lingshi and Fenyang are in Jinzhong area.

Home diet, unique customs.

The ancients usually had two meals a day, namely, eating in the morning (also known as eating) and feeding (also known as eating), which was compatible with the ancient labor system of "working at sunrise and resting in the morning" and the lack of food sources at that time. Many areas in Shanxi still maintain this habit. However, due to different regions and seasons, there are differences. Residents in northern Shanxi have always followed the traditional habit of "three meals in summer and autumn, two meals in winter and spring". "Shanxi Tongzhi" has a record of "feeding in winter and spring, two meals a day", which is about this habit. Only in summer and autumn, because of the busy farming, it was changed to three meals. During the busy farming season, many rural areas are used to sending meals to the fields, or taking dry food to eat when resting in the fields, which is commonly known as "pinching" or "hunger" among the people.

Some rural areas have the habit of standing on the street to eat in summer and autumn. People walk out of the courtyard door with a bowl of rice in Kazuhiro Mori, or squat at the door, or walk into the street and under a big tree, and chat while eating, so they can exchange anecdotes and jokes. The formation of this custom is probably related to the long-term occlusion of rural information and the monotonous cultural life of farmers. The villagers used the opportunity of eating to get together, and while eating, they talked about their home affairs. Some of them exchanged experiences in planting and breeding, while others spread current news.

In the cold season, the old farmer eats on the kang, with the elders in the middle, the children sitting on both sides, and the daughter-in-law sitting next to him, which is convenient for filling rice and adding vegetables. The whole family is full of excitement.

Eating in a scholarly family is another scene: no matter spring, summer, autumn and winter, three meals a year are eclipsed, and eating in the street is not allowed. The whole family is sitting together, and the children are orderly. Men and women are different, and they are in their places. It is not allowed to violate the law. When eating, strictly abide by the old adage of "eat without words", and don't throw rice and noodles on the table.

Big armour, giant businessmen, master and servant have strict boundaries, and dining is another rule. The host and hostess eat separately and generally don't eat with others. The footman served plates and bowls, and the maid waited on them. Wine before food, meat before vegetables, salty before sweet, soup after meals, what to serve first, and even the location of the dishes are all stipulated. Servants, servants start a new cooker, eat more coarse tea and light rice, or squat down to eat, or eat on the floor