What Do the Chinese Eat? What Do They Drink? Exploring Chinese Food Culture in Beijing

Pekin’de Çin yemek kültürünü keşfeden gezgin ve ördek bağırsağı ile çöp balığı deneyimi.

During my time in China's capital, Beijing, I had the opportunity to get to know Chinese food culture more closely. I stayed at the home of my friend Yushan, whom I found with the help of CouchSurfing, and she did her best to introduce me to traditional Chinese dishes. In this article, I will share with you this flavorful experience I had with Yushan and Chinese food culture. I will also talk about Yushan's Turkey adventure; the story of this strong woman who pedaled her bicycle from Istanbul to Mersin is truly inspiring.

Yushan and Her Turkey Adventure: 2000 km by Bicycle

Yushan returned from Turkey about a month ago and pedaled her bicycle from Istanbul to Mersin, and then on to Ankara. This challenging 2000 km journey took one month, and during this time, she camped alone with her tent. Yushan's adventure shows what a strong and determined person she is. During her time in Turkey, she collected many wonderful memories with Turkish people and received great support from them. For this reason, she wanted to help me in Beijing and introduce me to Chinese food culture.

Chinese Food Culture: Duck Intestine and "Trash Fish"

Together with Yushan, I had the opportunity to try some extraordinary delicacies of Chinese food culture. First, we ate duck intestine. This dish is known as one of the unusual flavors of Chinese cuisine. Although it is difficult to describe the taste, it was interesting to understand how the Chinese have become accustomed to such foods. Then, we tried a type of fish known as "trash fish." This fish usually lives in freshwater sources and is frequently used in Chinese cuisine.

These experiences showed once again how diverse and extraordinary Chinese food culture can be. Yushan said that these dishes are quite popular in China and that she loves them very much. However, I am curious about your decision regarding how much they suit our palate.

Red Tea: China's Traditional Beverage

After the meal, Yushan brewed me red tea, one of China's traditional beverages. The tea culture in China dates back thousands of years, and for the Chinese, tea is not just a drink, but also a ritual. The light and pleasant aroma of the red tea was a nice closing after the meal. This tea offers a taste quite different from Turkish tea, and it was truly enjoyable to experience it.

Conclusion: Chinese Food Culture and Suitability to Our Palate

During my time in Beijing, discovering Chinese food culture was both an interesting and educational experience. Trying extraordinary delicacies like duck intestine and trash fish showed once again how rich and diverse Chinese cuisine is. However, the decision is yours regarding how well these dishes suit our palate. If you want to discover the food culture in China, I recommend that you consider the experiences I have shared in this article and be open to different flavors. Enjoy the video!

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