China is a country with ancient civilization and a land of long-standing food culture. The food culture can be summarized into the following characteristics:

Diverse flavors

Due to China’s vast territory and rich resources, there are differences in climate, products, customs and habits in various places. For a long time, the food culture has been There are many flavors formed on it. There has always been a saying in China that "rice from the south is from the north", and the taste can be divided into "sweet in the south, salty in the north, sour in the east and spicy in the west", mainly including Bashu, Qilu, Huaiyang, Guangdong and Fujian.

The four seasons are different

Eating according to the seasons is another major feature of Chinese cooking. Since ancient times, China has been seasoning and garnishing dishes according to seasonal changes. In winter, it is rich and mellow, and in summer, it is light and cool. In winter, it is often stewed and simmered, and in summer, it is often eaten cold and frozen.

Pay attention to aesthetics

Chinese cooking is not only technically exquisite, but also has a tradition of paying attention to the aesthetics of dishes, paying attention to the coordination of color, aroma, taste, shape and utensils of food. The expression of the aesthetics of dishes is multi-faceted. Whether it is a carrot or a cabbage heart, it can be carved into various shapes to be unique and achieve the harmonious unity of color, aroma, taste, shape and beauty, giving people spiritual and material heights. Unified special enjoyment.

Focus on taste

Chinese cooking has long paid attention to taste and taste. It not only has strict requirements on the color, aroma and taste of meals and snacks, but also on their naming, taste and taste. There are certain requirements for the rhythm of meals and the interspersion of entertainment. The names of Chinese dishes can be said to be superb, elegant and popular. The names of dishes are not only realistically named based on main ingredients, auxiliary ingredients, seasonings and cooking methods, but also named based on historical anecdotes, myths and legends, celebrity food tastes, and dish images, such as "Family Portrait", "General Crossing the Bridge", and "Lion's Head" , "Beggar Chicken", "Dragon and Phoenix Presenting Good Luck", "Hongmen Banquet", "Dongpo Meat".

Integration of food and medicine

Chinese cooking technology is closely related to medical care. Thousands of years ago, "medicine and food have the same origin" and "medicine and diet have the same effect". According to the saying, the medicinal value of food raw materials is used to make various delicacies to achieve the purpose of preventing and treating certain diseases. "

The beauty of neutrality is the highest aesthetic ideal of traditional Chinese culture. "Those who are neutral are the foundation of the world; those who are harmonious are the leaders of the world." When there is harmony, the heavens will be in place and all things will be nourished." ("The Book of Rites: The Doctrine of the Mean"). There is a famous saying in "Gu Wen Shangshu Shuo Ming": "If you want to make a harmonious soup, you can only salt the plums", which means to make it well. The key to soup is to harmonize the two flavors of salt (salt) and sour (plum). This is a metaphor for governing the country. In "Zuo Zhuan", Yan Ying (the Xianxiang of Qi State) also discussed with Qi Jinggong what "harmony" is and pointed out that "harmony" is not. "Together" and harmony are based on the coordination of different opinions. Therefore, Chinese philosophers believe that everything in the world can find its place in a state of "neutralization" in order to thrive and develop. This aesthetic ideal is built between individuals and society. Based on the harmonious unity of man and nature, this idea of ??achieving "the beauty of harmony" through harmony was inspired and influenced by ancient cooking practices and theories, which in turn affected people's entire dietary life. This is especially true for ancient literati and officials who pursue art and life.

The opposite of "neutralization" is extreme, and extremes are not considered authentic in cooking. Those who are "overly salty". Although food that is "too spicy or too sour" will be sought after by some people whose bodies are in an abnormal state, it is harmful to the body in the long run. The disadvantages of extremism in social and political life are even more serious. Winning words.