Cantonese cuisine is one of the eight culinary traditions of Chinese cuisine. Studies show it is also the most well-known Chinese cuisine among foreigners. Cao Chufeng reports.
A study conducted by Global Times in 2019, showed, Cantonese cuisine that originated from around Guangdong Province, ranks first in terms of international recognition among all Chinese cuisines.
And a famous saying in China says Guangdong's capital "Guangzhou is the place to eat", so to learn more about Cantonese cuisine, I decided to visit a hotel in Guangzhou, that has a long history of catering to foreign guests.
XU JINHUI, Executive Chef, China Hotel "Cantonese foods are only cooked with seasonal ingredients. And the smell and temperature of the dishes are also very important."
I also had the privilege to try some of the dishes cooked by the Executive Chef himself.
XU JINHUI, Executive Chef, China Hotel "These are some of the dishes that foreign guests really like. When they come to Guangdong, they always eat Chicken. And foreigners love BBQ, so I've prepared Char Siu. And this sweet and sour pork, is a dish you will find in almost every Cantonese restaurant across the globe."
CAO CHUFENG, Guangzhou "This is so tasty. The flavors of sweet and sour are very well balanced, and the pineapples give it a touch of freshness. The texture of the pork is also very tender."
Historically, the largest number of overseas Chinese migrants have been from Guangdong Province and it's been them that have made Cantonese cuisine prominent outside of China. But some believe there are still areas that need to be worked on in terms of promoting overseas recognition.
CHENG GANG, Secretary General, Guangdong Restaurant Association "Cantonese cuisine is a very inclusive cuisine, so one of its advantages is that it can be adapted to the tastes of customers in different countries. But it also means that some of the original characteristics will be lost in the process. We still hope to further promote the overseas recognition of authentic Cantonese cuisine from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau."
The Guangdong government is now working on a legislation on Cantonese cuisine, that hopes to help promote it both inside and outside China. Cao Chufeng, CGTN, Guangzhou.