| The world of Chinese food consists of more variety | | | | (Peking) Duck, Mongolian Hot Pot and Mongolian Beef |
| than most Americans realize. There are many | | | | are some of the more familiar types of this cuisine. |
| different types of food in China that can be | | | | Eastern, or Shanghai - This cuisine uses a combination |
| categorized roughly by four regions: Southern, | | | | of wheat and rice as its staples. Rice and wheat |
| Northern, Eastern and Western. Some information | | | | noodles are very popular. This region has a lot of |
| about each: | | | | rivers and other bodies of water, so fish and |
| Southern, or Cantonese - The cuisine from this area | | | | seafood are a very large part of the cuisine. Sugar is |
| is perhaps the most well known to Americans. | | | | also grown in this area, and Shanghai cuisine uses |
| Cantonese cuisine uses a large variety of vegetables | | | | more of it than the other regions. The cooking style |
| and meats. Rice is the staple, and the familiar Fried | | | | of this region can be delicate and refined, with a large |
| Rice recipes are Cantonese in origin. Many of the | | | | variety of sweet and savory pastries being made |
| dishes of this area are prepared very quickly by | | | | using the thinnest of pastry skin. Meatballs made |
| stir-frying. Usually Cantonese cuisine is lightly flavored, | | | | from finely minced pork are also part of this cuisine. |
| but there are a large variety of tastes used. Sweet | | | | This area also produces a type of cured ham. |
| and sour dishes originated in this region. | | | | Western, or Szechwan - Szechwan cuisine is famous |
| Northern, or Beijing - Also known as Mandarin cuisine, | | | | for its use of tongue-blistering chili peppers in a |
| this type of food originated in the area of China that | | | | variety of dishes. But there's more to this cuisine |
| has very sever winters. The climate of this region | | | | than just heat. There are subtle dishes, such as |
| does not allow for the growing of rice, so wheat is | | | | smoked Chicken that is smoked with tea leaves. |
| the staple. Wheat is made into noodles, pancakes and | | | | Szechwan pepper is also a spice used in this cuisine. |
| dumplings. The flavors of Northern China are more | | | | Five-spice powder is another spice that is used in this |
| robust, with plenty of onion, garlic, cabbage, bean | | | | cuisine. Hot and Sour soup and Twice Cooked Pork |
| pastes, dark soy sauce and oyster flavored sauce. | | | | are familiar dishes from this area. |
| With influences from Mongolian and Muslim invaders in | | | | These four regions are only a broad guide to the |
| the past, Northern cuisine is hearty fare. Beijing | | | | remarkable, varied cuisine of China. |