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People all over the world value tasty cuisine, but each country has its own customs and traditions when it comes to food. Experts from China and Africa share their thoughts on epicurean culture with ChinAfrica.
Bian Jiang, Assistant President of China Cuisine Association
Food plays a very important role in the lives of the Chinese people. China’s vast lands and regions offer a variety of different resources, allowing each region to develop its own distinct cuisine while influencing each others’ food culture. This diversity of flavors and cuisines lends China a unique gourmet culture.
Chinese food has little foreign influence because historically, China developed its own cuisine behind closed doors. The origins of Chinese cuisine can be traced back to the tang Dynasty (618–907). The development of Chinese cuisine grew with the economy, climaxing during a time when China’s economy also peaked.
There is a Chinese saying that “Food is the paramount necessity of the people.” In early times, most imperial courts believed that if their people were well-fed, the empire would be stable and peaceful. As time passed, it was no longer necessary to worry about feeding the masses, but gourmet culture had already taken a life of its own. Chinese people became passionate about food and refined cuisine, and cooking delicious food became an art.
Presentation is important in Chinese cuisine, but aesthetics are not the first priority. China’s enormous size means that it has a large variety of ingredients, and Chinese cooks believe it is important to allow the vibrant colors of these ingredients shine.
Table manners are also important in Chinese culture, starting from the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. Ethnic minority groups have their own traditional manners, but most Chinese people base their manners on those established by Confucius and Mencius. For example, Chinese people prefer round tables for dinner. Chinese people believe that families should sit together for meals, and sitting around the table and sharing food implies a harmonious atmosphere and unity. It is also the Chinese tradition to serve certain dishes whole, such as fish and chicken, and to place dishes in a circle.
Chinese people use chopsticks instead of forks and knives, and believe they are more versatile and convenient to use. There are different ways to use chopsticks and place them in table settings. Chopsticks have become an integral part of the Chinese table.
Chinese eat animal viscera, which some foreigners find difficult to understand. But because the Chinese suffered poverty for a long time, it became ingrained in Chinese tradition to eat the whole animal and not allow offal to go to waste. In other countries, simple cooking methods are not enough to make animal viscera tasty, but in China, there are over 30 different methods to make offal edible and delicious. Chinese cooks enjoy finding the best ways to cook with challenging ingredients. In Guangdong Province on the South China Sea coast, people even eat snakes and rats during certain seasons; they believe eating these animal will improve their health. In traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners believe that food is also medicine and that our health will be improved when we eat some food. In fact, China’s food culture aligns closely with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.
Euloge Ayao Baudouin, Owner of an African restaurant in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province
Food culture in Africa has many different influences. In remote antiquity, Africans ate what they could find and forage in the wild, such as animals and various fruits. African cuisine began to evolve after Columbus discovered the New World in the 15th century when Africa was involved in international trade. Different cultures from Spain, Portugal, and Holland produced an indelible effect on African cuisine. Leaders in Africa brought in several kinds of vegetables and fruits from other countries, and also asked their foreign friends to bring vegetable seeds from their countries. Dishes that were popular with black slaves in the United States were also brought back to Africa after their emancipation in 1863.
Some other cultural influences, such as Muslim food, have had an impact on African food culture as well. In modern times, African students and tourists abroad also bring in some new dishes and food trends. In short, because of the increasingly close connections with the international community, African food changes constantly and becomes a global cuisine.
Africans’ food preference is closely related to the geographical environment. they love cornmeal and cassava - staples that are widely produced in Africa’s tropical climate - and they also like carrots, tomatoes and onions. People who live in the coastal area like seafood, and those who live inland like meat.
When eating, Africans do not use tableware, and instead use their hands, as they are regarded as one of the most important parts of the body. For example, if a man wants to marry a woman, he would say: “I need your hands.” Additionally, shaking hands is important in African culture to show a good relationship between two people. the two hands are for different uses - the right one is for “clean work,” such as shaking hands, educating children and eating, while the left hand is used to clean. In order to stay hygienic, people wash their hands before dinner. In the old days, people washed their hands with the sap of leaves, and today they use soap.
In the eyes of Africans, dinner time is the most important and sacred time of the day, because they believe deceased ancestors are eating with the whole family, and it is a time when the family can communicate and children can learn from elders. Some table rules are very important; for example, young children are not allowed to eat some food, such as the head of fish, without the elder’s permission.
Africans also emphasize the health benefits of different foods. Ginger is used to sterilize, and onions and garlics are employed to reduce internal heat - they are essential for people living in tropical areas.
In the past, Africans did not place importance on dishes’ presentation. However, under the influence of other cultures, combined with the desire to have the rest of the world appreciate African cuisine, Africans have started to make great efforts to improve both the flavor and the appearance of their cuisine.
Men do not cook in African culture, but I fell in love with cooking because of the influence of Chinese food culture. Now, I want to spread African food culture around the whole world. the 2005 World Expo and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo have already been two major venues for attracting public attention, and I am now studying in China to have an even better presentation in the 2015 Milan Expo.
Bian Jiang, Assistant President of China Cuisine Association
Food plays a very important role in the lives of the Chinese people. China’s vast lands and regions offer a variety of different resources, allowing each region to develop its own distinct cuisine while influencing each others’ food culture. This diversity of flavors and cuisines lends China a unique gourmet culture.
Chinese food has little foreign influence because historically, China developed its own cuisine behind closed doors. The origins of Chinese cuisine can be traced back to the tang Dynasty (618–907). The development of Chinese cuisine grew with the economy, climaxing during a time when China’s economy also peaked.
There is a Chinese saying that “Food is the paramount necessity of the people.” In early times, most imperial courts believed that if their people were well-fed, the empire would be stable and peaceful. As time passed, it was no longer necessary to worry about feeding the masses, but gourmet culture had already taken a life of its own. Chinese people became passionate about food and refined cuisine, and cooking delicious food became an art.
Presentation is important in Chinese cuisine, but aesthetics are not the first priority. China’s enormous size means that it has a large variety of ingredients, and Chinese cooks believe it is important to allow the vibrant colors of these ingredients shine.
Table manners are also important in Chinese culture, starting from the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. Ethnic minority groups have their own traditional manners, but most Chinese people base their manners on those established by Confucius and Mencius. For example, Chinese people prefer round tables for dinner. Chinese people believe that families should sit together for meals, and sitting around the table and sharing food implies a harmonious atmosphere and unity. It is also the Chinese tradition to serve certain dishes whole, such as fish and chicken, and to place dishes in a circle.
Chinese people use chopsticks instead of forks and knives, and believe they are more versatile and convenient to use. There are different ways to use chopsticks and place them in table settings. Chopsticks have become an integral part of the Chinese table.
Chinese eat animal viscera, which some foreigners find difficult to understand. But because the Chinese suffered poverty for a long time, it became ingrained in Chinese tradition to eat the whole animal and not allow offal to go to waste. In other countries, simple cooking methods are not enough to make animal viscera tasty, but in China, there are over 30 different methods to make offal edible and delicious. Chinese cooks enjoy finding the best ways to cook with challenging ingredients. In Guangdong Province on the South China Sea coast, people even eat snakes and rats during certain seasons; they believe eating these animal will improve their health. In traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners believe that food is also medicine and that our health will be improved when we eat some food. In fact, China’s food culture aligns closely with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.
Euloge Ayao Baudouin, Owner of an African restaurant in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province
Food culture in Africa has many different influences. In remote antiquity, Africans ate what they could find and forage in the wild, such as animals and various fruits. African cuisine began to evolve after Columbus discovered the New World in the 15th century when Africa was involved in international trade. Different cultures from Spain, Portugal, and Holland produced an indelible effect on African cuisine. Leaders in Africa brought in several kinds of vegetables and fruits from other countries, and also asked their foreign friends to bring vegetable seeds from their countries. Dishes that were popular with black slaves in the United States were also brought back to Africa after their emancipation in 1863.
Some other cultural influences, such as Muslim food, have had an impact on African food culture as well. In modern times, African students and tourists abroad also bring in some new dishes and food trends. In short, because of the increasingly close connections with the international community, African food changes constantly and becomes a global cuisine.
Africans’ food preference is closely related to the geographical environment. they love cornmeal and cassava - staples that are widely produced in Africa’s tropical climate - and they also like carrots, tomatoes and onions. People who live in the coastal area like seafood, and those who live inland like meat.
When eating, Africans do not use tableware, and instead use their hands, as they are regarded as one of the most important parts of the body. For example, if a man wants to marry a woman, he would say: “I need your hands.” Additionally, shaking hands is important in African culture to show a good relationship between two people. the two hands are for different uses - the right one is for “clean work,” such as shaking hands, educating children and eating, while the left hand is used to clean. In order to stay hygienic, people wash their hands before dinner. In the old days, people washed their hands with the sap of leaves, and today they use soap.
In the eyes of Africans, dinner time is the most important and sacred time of the day, because they believe deceased ancestors are eating with the whole family, and it is a time when the family can communicate and children can learn from elders. Some table rules are very important; for example, young children are not allowed to eat some food, such as the head of fish, without the elder’s permission.
Africans also emphasize the health benefits of different foods. Ginger is used to sterilize, and onions and garlics are employed to reduce internal heat - they are essential for people living in tropical areas.
In the past, Africans did not place importance on dishes’ presentation. However, under the influence of other cultures, combined with the desire to have the rest of the world appreciate African cuisine, Africans have started to make great efforts to improve both the flavor and the appearance of their cuisine.
Men do not cook in African culture, but I fell in love with cooking because of the influence of Chinese food culture. Now, I want to spread African food culture around the whole world. the 2005 World Expo and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo have already been two major venues for attracting public attention, and I am now studying in China to have an even better presentation in the 2015 Milan Expo.