A Bite of China

This episode explores the rich bounty of food that is nature's gift to the Chinese people. Elf ear mushrooms gathered near Shangri-La on the Tibetan plateau, bamboo shoots from Zhejiang and Guangxi, traditional salt production and Nuodeng hams in Yunnan, lotus roots from Hubei and Henan, ice fishing in northern Heilongjiang, and finally trawling in the South China Sea.

This episode explores the staple foods that comprise the base of the Chinese diet. Examples are shown of the five traditional grains of China: rice, wheat, broomcorn millet, millet, and beans. Uses for all of the grains are also shown, from sticky rice cakes to noodles, dumplings and breads. It also explores the cultural divide between the southern preference for rice and the northern love of wheat.

This episode looks at several traditional methods of processing food to produce distinctly Chinese delicacies, in particular fermentation. Explore many different varieties of tofu in central China and several varieties of fermented dairy products in Inner Mongolia. Other food processes include alcohol in Shaoxing, preserved meats in Zhejiang and fermented vegetables in north east China.

Most of great food is fissile spectacle resulting from combination and crash of different ingredients. If compare it with human relationship, some would be regarded as amazing perfect match. Some meet by chance but touched us deeply. Some can only make us regret not letting them meet sooner. Human activities lead to the gathering of food. The separation and reunion of food, on the other hand, also controls people. What Westerners called "destiny", is called "Yuan fen" by Chinese.

In China, the habit of having breakfast dates back to Han Dynasty 2000 odd years ago. Since then, the majority of Chinese people have had three meals a day, which is beneficial to living and production. Although having three meals a day, has almost become a common diet pattern worldwide. In China, however, the pattern embodies various life experiences in different paces of life.

In the old city of Beijing, within a short distance, you can have a taste of authentic Turkish food, genuine Spanish seafood paella, or prime French cuisine. People come across food from around the globe, and their taste has assimilated with that of the whole world. However, there always exists food that has not been discovered, hiding in the hills and valleys, rivers and seas, deserts and grasslands in China. These are the realms of secrets that we want to explore.

From pottery, bronze, iron, porcelain, Chinese cooking utensils all the way, along with the continuous advancement of civilization, the invention, discovery and application of new materials, barbecue, steaming, frying also appeared one after another, and Chinese cooking methods have taken a leap. Sometimes it is kitchen utensils that create cooking methods, and sometimes the needs of cooking methods promote the innovation of kitchen utensils and utensils. In the long history, how to make better use of ingredients and cook the best taste, from kitchen utensils to tableware, the Chinese have developed unique tool wisdom and aesthetic awareness.

Water and soil on one side and people on the other. China's rich natural resources have brought a variety of unique snack categories. These foods are often made from local materials, are the most friendly, can best reflect local characteristics, and are also the most evocative. They have a prominent position and strong vitality in Chinese food culture. Snacks condense the customs of a place and become a unique local folk symbol, reflecting the local material and social life style.

Chinese people are used to turning joys, sorrows and joys in life, weddings and funerals, and socializing into eating activities. As the so-called "reciprocity of etiquette" improves the relationship between people, the style of banquets and parties has greatly developed. People closely connect diet and social interaction, and the matter of diet is devoted to the expectation of family harmony, state governance, and world peace. Through banquets, people not only enjoy the art of food, but also enhance affinity and achieve harmony.

The life of Chinese people is centered on the vegetable market. It is the entrance to a local customs, always bustling and hot. It is also a lively circle of friends, content with trivial matters and family affairs. In the alleys and open-air sheds, everyone is a poet of ordinary life, picking ingredients and cooking fireworks. The days are warm and cozy between the chopping board and the stove. There is a road in the market, and there is true love between fireworks. People cannot live without the vegetable market.

Our taste inspiration often appears in some hidden places. The new knowledge gained from storage is passed down from generation to generation, forming food customs and sculpting the Chinese food civilization. Little do we know that behind the experience is a dialogue with time and a bond with microorganisms, which trains us to have a pair of eyes that can penetrate changes. Open the channel between the microscopic world and taste aesthetics, and let us embark on a journey to explore the mystery of natural transformation.