What are the dietary differences between the north and south?

Different regions have different food cultures. There are many differences between the food cultures of northern and southern China. People living in the north do not like the southern food when they go to the south, and people living in the south are not used to the northern food when they go to the north. So what are the differences between the food cultures of northern and southern China? Next, I will take you to learn about this knowledge.

What are the dietary differences between the north and south?

1. Differences in staple foods

The most obvious manifestation of the dietary differences between the north and the south is in the staple food. Rice is the staple food of the southern provinces because the south is a rice-producing area. Locals can not eat vegetables or drink soup, but must eat a bowl of fragrant rice. The north is the main wheat producing area, and the staple food of northerners is pasta, mostly steamed buns and noodles.

2. Meat Differences

There are also obvious differences in meat ingredients between the north and south. In the south, pork and chicken are the main meat ingredients, especially in Sichuan and Chongqing. Pork is a must-have meat ingredient for every household. They not only like to use pork to make braised pork, but also like to make sweet and sour pork tenderloin and stir-fried pork. In Guangdong, they like to use chicken to make soup. The temperature in the north is lower, and there are more local residents, who like to eat beef and mutton.

3. Taste Differences

There are also obvious differences in taste between the north and the south. The southern diet is mostly sweet and salty, but some people in mountainous areas like to eat spicy ingredients, while in northern China, salty and fragrant food is the main flavor. No matter what dishes they cook, they like to add sauces and light soy sauce, and the cooked dishes have a strong sauce flavor. In northwestern China, many residents also like spicy food.

4. Differences in cuisine

There are also obvious differences in the cuisines of the north and south. The advantage of southern cuisine is extremely obvious. Guangdong has Cantonese cuisine, Sichuan has Sichuan cuisine, and Hunan has Hunan cuisine. However, there are very few independent cuisines in northern China. Only the Northeastern cuisine in the Northeast region is relatively distinctive. In addition, in terms of quantity, the dishes in the southern diet are mostly small and exquisite, while those in the north are numerous and coarse.

The above comparative introduction to the food culture of the north and south can let everyone know the differences between the north and south food cultures, and can give everyone a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Chinese food culture.