Jan.26, 2021
Let's have hotpot together when you have time!
How much do Chinese people like hotpot? Check out the data:
This is a graph of all the online food ordering in China of 2017 and 2018. From 2017-2018, hotpot overstepped fast food to become the No.1 ordered food online, occupying over 1/5 of all the bills.
As hotpot is so important for living in modern Chinese society, today I would like to take this chance to give you a briefing about all what you have to know about Chinese hotpot. Therefore, you can enjoy it more when you hang out with your local friends!
Hotpot is called 古董羹(gǔdǒnggēng) in ancient time. It's named after the sound made by food thrown into the boiling water. Like the English word "thud" in Chinese, is "gudong".
During the Three Kingdoms period (A.D.220—A.D.265), an emperor embedded five clapboards to divide the pot into five parts with five different flavours.
In late Qing dynasty, boatmen along Yangtze River in Chongqing were keen on boiling meat with spicy soup, which was cheap but delicious and could also fend off the chill. Afterwards, it soon became the classical cuisine of boatmen. Developed over years, Chongqing people opened the first hotpot restaurant called "Bailetian" in 1921.
Since then, Chongqing Hotpot, Sichuan Hotpot and Chaoshan Hotpot represent the southern style. Instant boiled meat, Beef Hotpot and Lamb Hotpot represent the northern style. Both styles developed respectively divided by Yangtze River. Now Chinese hotpot has more than 30 kinds with different styles and flavours.
80% Sesame sauce + 20% peanut sauce!
Chopped scallion (optional), coriander (optional), chilli (optional), oyster sauce (optional), sesame (optional)
mashed garlic, sesame, chopped scallion
mashed garlic, chilli, scallion, coriander (optional)
四川火锅 Sichuan Hotpot
涮肉火锅 Boiled Meat Hotpot
【东来顺/Dōngláishùn】
广东火锅 Cantonese Hotpot
【今日牛事/Jīnrì niúshì】
云南火锅 Yunnan Hotpot
【焱格格/yángége】
In China, although there are different types of hotpot in different districts, people always have the same purpose to have hotpot. That is, just finding a reason to meet family and friends no matter how busy you are and where you are. We step into the restaurant from the cold outside, take off coats and sit close around a pot, enjoying the food and company without any disturbance. That's maybe the truth where the popularity of Chinese hotpot lies in.
(pics are from the Internet)
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