The taste of ChaoShan cuisine - by Kitty Cai Allegro

Discover the essence of Chaoshan cuisine, celebrated for its lightness and freshness. This culinary tradition highlights the natural flavors of seafood and other ingredients, with beloved dishes like oyster pancakes and double Zongzi offering a delightful taste of home. 

by Kitty Cai Allegro

Chaoshan cuisine is known for its lightness and freshness. Preserving the original flavor of the ingredients is key, and seafood is a major specialty. Simple seasoning and unique cooking techniques allow each dish to reveal its essence. The oyster Pancake on Xitian Lane is an indelible flavor of childhood. The perfect combination of fresh local oysters, duck eggs, and taro powder, cooked in lard, crispy and tender texture, combine perfectly.

Chaoshan cuisine is known for its lightness and freshness

The double Zongzi at Old Mama Palace is another unforgettable flavor. Half is salty with cured meat and egg yolks, while the other half is sweet. The savory and sweetness of the Zongzi are in confrontation with each other in the mouth, yet harmoniously complement each other, and this unique pairing is just like the diversity and inclusivity of Chaoshan culture, which is amazing in every bite.

Double Zongzi

The handmade beef meatballs of Chaoshan has hundreds of years of history, fried kuey teow, kuey teow soup, deep-fried meat rolls, and oil dumplings during Chinese New Year are some of the things that I miss dearly from my hometown's cuisine. In my heart, the food of Chaoshan is not only the enjoyment of flavor, but also the support of the soul. It is as if I am mingling with the memories of my hometown, nourishing my feelings for it.

CFA recommendation

Do you want to know more about the 8 different regional cuisines of China? Get your China Foods Guide. 

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