Photo: Jeremy Keith

According to Chinese legend, Emperor Chen-nung invented tea in 2374 BC–by accident. One summer day, he decided to relax beneath a shrub tree and place a bowl of boiling water beside him. Soon after, a soft breeze blew a few shrub leaves into the bowl, where they began to steep. After smelling the delicate aroma, Emperor Chen-nung tasted the infusion, and thus, tea was born.

Though the story remains up for debate, no one argues that the shrub Emperor Chen-nung sat under (the Camellia sinensis, or tea, tree) hails from China, nor that the country was the first to brew the drink. The popular modern method of infusion developed gradually, becoming prevalent by the Ming dynasty when drinking tea started to take on symbolic qualities. It began to signify more than a beverage, but a ritual, too, representing discipline and beauty. Read More

Photo: toyohara

By: Justin Chan

Are you ready to swap your Bordeaux for a Ningxia? A what, you may ask? According to a recent blind taste test of wine experts, it seems as though Bordeaux winemakers may have just met their match…in East Asia!

Grape wine has a long but ambiguous history in China. Although it has become widely popular nowadays, it was a little-known beverage until globalization exposed millions of Chinese to its acetic and astringent flavor. Scholars say that the first documentation of westernized wine came as early as the 7th century, although evidence suggests that grape seeds were brought to China from what is now considered Uzbekistan during the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD). The large importation of grapes during these early years, however, did little to maintain the appeal of grape wine among the Chinese, and the beverage was soon replaced by alcoholic beverages made of millet, sorghum and rice.

It was not until the 19th century that wine became popular again in China. Read More

Photo: Stefan Lins

By: Justin Chan

Chinese cuisine in America is often defined by typical dishes such as orange chicken, dumplings and chow mein. Those dishes only represent a small portion of the vast number of culinary treats the Chinese have to offer. Stroll through Chinatown in the vibrant Lower East Side, and you’ll find roasted pork or duck hanging in front of restaurant windows and vendors selling mini pancakes made from a gooey batter. Better yet, walk into a restaurant, and you might have the chance to experience a popular Cantonese serving known as dim sum.

Dim sum traces its roots back to the ancient Silk Road, which connected East Asia to parts of Africa and Europe. The trade route allowed merchants to exchange goods but also gave rise to a delicacy that many Chinese families have come to adore. Farmers and laborers would stop by teahouses along the route where they would yum cha (drink tea) and help themselves to dim sum or small platters of food. The Cantonese in Southern China particularly took a liking to the bite-sized edibles, and what used to be a quiet dining experience quickly became a raucous one. Read More

Photo: David Woo

By: Michele Wolfson

This year’s news headlines have focused on how food-borne illnesses are affecting people globally. Between E. Coli outbreaks in Europe and Salmonella inhabiting cantaloupes and pine nuts in America, the biggest offender of food-safety has been China. The Chinese government insists that it is cracking down on food violators and has chosen to take Walmart, an American supermarket chain, as it’s next target. On October 25^th, Walmart reopened 13 stores in the southwestern region of Chongqing that were closed for two weeks as punishment for mislabeling a pork product.

Attention to the food safety issue in this country was heightened when the 2008 Olympics were held in Beijing Read More

In some places, street food has been around for thousands of years. China’s rou jia mo sandwich can be traced back to the Qin dynasty, about 221 BC to 207 BC. But what is rou jia mo? Read More

There are a variety of comfort foods for when you’re feeling sick: chicken soup, ginger ale and maybe even your Grandma’s homemade macaroni and cheese. But did you know that there are certain ingredients that are prone to make you feel better? Read More

When the Chinese delegation requested a “quintessentially American dinner,” what did that mean to White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford? Read More

By Jason Bell

The Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is a chance to sample particularly festive and unusual Chinese food. Many of the dishes prepared for New Year’s celebrations have a symbolic meaning, from mandarin oranges (wealth) to red candy (a protection against evil). Read More

Food and People with Elaine Wray

Food is one of the pleasures that reveals our society’s cultural values.  The cuisine of Shanghai and Beijing provides a memorable dining experience where we not only appreciate the food but also appreciate the traditions and cultures of these two exciting cities. The regional Chinese cuisine offers a variety from the finest noodles to dim sum to the Peking duck. Read More