Characteristics of Chinese Cuisine

Chinese cuisine is an important part of traditional Chinese culture, with a long history and expert craftsmanship, considered one of the jewels of global culinary culture. Chinese cuisine is based on the basic elements of color, aroma, flavor, form and presentation, and places emphasis on the selection of ingredients, the use of culinary techniques and the aesthetic presentation of dishes to achieve a full effect of color, aroma and flavor.

Here, we summarized three perspectives of the highlights and charm of Chinese cuisine:

1.Selection of Ingredients

Chinese pays attention to the freshness, quality and diversity of ingredients. When choosing ingredients, they consider texture, nutritional value, and cooking method. For example, when cooking fish dishes, fresh fish is chosen to ensure freshness and texture; when cooking meat dishes, lean and fatty cuts are selected to ensure their tenderness and taste; When cooking vegetable dishes, fresh vegetables are used to maintain their color and texture.

2.Use of Culinary Techniques

Chinese cuisine has a wide variety of cooking techniques, including cooking, frying, boiling, steaming, braising, roasting, stir-frying, and some techniques that could not find a corresponding English word. Each culinary technique highlights the characteristics of the ingredients in different ways. For example, braising involves cooking ingredients in boiling water to bring out their freshness and texture; Frying involves quickly cooking ingredients in hot oil to enhance their flavor and aroma; Steaming involves steaming ingredients to retain their nutritional value.

3.Aesthetic Presentation

Chinese cuisine focuses on the aesthetic presentation of dishes, including color, aroma, flavor, shape and presentation. Chinese dishes should have bright, vibrant colors to stimulate the appetite; They must have tempting aromas to arouse interest; They must have delicious and balanced flavors to satisfy the palate; They must have attractive and elegant shapes to attract attention; and they should be served in exquisite and elegant tableware to enhance their beauty.

In summary, Chinese cuisine is based on the basic elements of color, aroma, flavor, form and presentation, and places emphasis on the selection of ingredients, the use of culinary techniques and the aesthetic presentation of dishes. It is not only a culinary skill, but also a form of cultural expression. It represents the Chinese people's pursuit of good food and quality of life, as well as the depth and diverse charm of Chinese culture.