The range of foods in China is vast, and there’ll be something to suit even the most eclectic of tastes. A typical dish in China usually involves either rice or noodles. Regional differences can be great – Western palettes are used to the Cantonese cuisine which is often on restaurant and takeaway menus in the UK.
The Szechuan region favours spicy, chilli-based food and ingredients such as the unusual flavour of their own Szechuan pepper. Tofu, made from soybeans is regularly used which means there are plenty of dishes suitable for vegetarians across China. Steamed dumplings, known as dim sum are widely popular, and a tasty snack. Try a soft bun filled with red bean paste for an authentic experience.
Head to the street markets and you will find some really unusual and sometimes unnerving food on offer. If you are feeling very adventurous you could try anything from insects to sea slugs, snakes or silkworms. Delicacies include monkeys’ brains, bird’s nest soup and preserved eggs known rather worryingly as ‘thousand-year-old eggs’. There is a saying in China that they will eat anything with legs! There is no need to indulge in any of these more peculiar treats unless you want to – China has so much delicious (and recognisable!) food that a diet of insects can easily be avoided!
Don’t forget that China has been renowned for centuries for its tea, so make sure you try all the spectrum of colours – green, black, red – maybe even the aptly named gunpowder tea!
You may want to practice eating with chopsticks before you depart, and watch the locals for tips too, as often bowls will be brought towards the mouth and the chopsticks used as both a prong and a scoop. In bigger cities, you may well find cutlery on offer but in more rural areas it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll be offered a fork with your meal so getting the hang of chopsticks sooner rather than later is both useful and fun!