If you ask anyone from China their first impression of Guangzhou, most people would say: "delicious". Guangzhou is hailed as China's "food capital" for good reason. As one of the eight major cuisines in China, Cantonese cuisine has a culinary tradition stretching back over 2,000 years. This southern metropolis offers a symphony of flavors that balances freshness, texture, and harmony. For travelers seeking an authentic taste of Cantonese cuisine, Guangzhou is nothing short of paradise.
Guangzhou's food culture revolves around three core principles: seasonal ingredients, subtle seasoning, and masterful cooking techniques. Unlike the fiery spices of Sichuan, Cantonese cuisine lets natural flavors shine, preserving the essence of seafood, poultry, and vegetables.
Dim Sum
Start your day like a local with yum cha (tea drinking) at a bustling teahouse. The tradition of drinking morning tea with dim sum is a unique type of morning activity in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong. For centuries, locals have gathered at teahouses to savor delicate dim sum, sip fragrant teas, and bond with family and friends. Here are some popular dim sums that you should try.
- Har Gow (shrimp dumplings): Translucent wrappers (a mixture of wheat starch and tapioca flour) hugging plump, juicy shrimp.
- Shumai: A type of dumpling made of ground pork.
- Cha Siu Bao (barbecue pork buns): Fluffy steamed buns oozing with sweet-savory glazed pork.
Roast Meats
Siu mei, or roast meats, are also popular in Guangzhou. Different kinds of meats are roasted on spits over an open fire or large wood-burning rotisserie oven, creating a unique barbecue flavor.
- Roast goose: It tastes salty and slightly sweet, crisp outside and tender inside. It is often served with sweet plum sauce to complement the flavor.
- Cha Siu (barbecue pork): It is red outside and tastes a little sweet and sticky. It goes well with a bowl of chewy rice.
- White cut chicken: It is eaten with dipping sauce made of ginger, cilantro and leeks. The chicken tastes tender, smooth and slightly sweet.
Slow-cooked Soup
The Guangzhou locals always have a bowl of slow-cooked soup before they start their meal. The soup is slowly brewed over a low fire for a long time, which gives the soup rich nutrition and a tasty flavor. The ingredients vary based on people's preferences and effects. For people in Guangzhou, the slow-cooked soup is more than a dish, but also a kind of dietary therapy.
(Editor: Ella Qu)
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