Lamb or mutton is a less common meat in China, and is only commonly used where there are large areas of pasture, such as in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang.
Pork dominates the meat menu in China. The 57 million tons of pork consumed in China in 2021 accounted for 60 percent of total meat consumption. Most of the Chinese consumers surveyed report purchasing pork in the past month—a much higher rate than for their global peers (Exhibit 3).
Lamb is seen as a warming food in Chinese culture and helps people in the north ride out the country's cold winters.
Chinese people basically eat all animals' meat, such as pork, beef, mutton, chicken, duck, pigeon, as well as many others. Pork is the most commonly consumed meat, and it appears in almost every meal.
Lamb is a staple in Mediterranean, Indian, Irish, Italian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines. Barbacoa — pit-barbecued lamb — is a popular dish in Mexico, while roasted lamb leg is the national dish of Australia.
Sheep meat consumption
According to the OECD, the consumption of sheep's meat—including both lamb and mutton—is most popular in Kazakhstan, Australia, and Turkey.
Australia's love of lamb has been shared with the rest of the world for decades for its buttery flavour and delicate texture, whether it's sliced medium-rare for a light salad, slow-cooked in a Massaman curry or sous vide for a butter-soft backstrap.
Traditionally, the Chinese do not eat beef because the cow is considered a sacred animal and a holy incarnation of the Goddess of Mercy. Much like the Hindus, they believe that the cow is a gift from the gods, providing life nourishing milk, clothing from its hide and a partner to help toil and till the land.
In China, pig meat is the most consumed meat, followed by fish.
Chow mein is not only one of the most popular dishes in China, but it has also become a signature dish at Chinese restaurants all around the world. With stir-fried noodles, and your choice of sauteed tofu, vegetables, or meat, Chow mein has become an easy and reliable meal to be savored and enjoyed.
Australia's favourite meats
While red meat has traditionally taken pride of place at the centre of the Aussie dinner table, we're now eating half as much lamb as in the 1980s and two-thirds the amount of beef, but nearly 2.5 times as much chicken and twice as much pork.
By ancient custom on the festival of Eid-al-Adha (Eid ul-Adha or Kurban Bayrami in Tyrkey) or the Feast of the Sacrifice, devout Muslims sacrifice a lamb in commemoration of the Prophet Abraham's willingness to honor the word of God by sacrificing his son.
Australian Lamb:
“Aussie” lamb has become a very popular item today. It has been cross-bred with American lamb to create a larger more consistent product. Not too many years ago Aussie lamb was very undesirable. The lambs were raised primarily for their wool and the meat was almost a by-product of that industry.
Many Dongyang residents, young and old, said they believed in the tradition passed on by their ancestors that the eggs decrease body heat, promote better blood circulation and just generally reinvigorate the body. “By eating these eggs, we will not have any pain in our waists, legs and joints.
The most consumed type of meat worldwide is poultry, followed by beef, and lastly pork. The countries with the highest meat consumption per capita are Argentina, Israel, and Iceland, while India has one of the lowest levels of meat consumption per capita.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world (36%) followed by poultry (33%), beef (24%), and goats/sheep (5%).
Still, the Chinese widely believe that consuming animal products—specifically beef and milk—are necessary for health and nutrition. This is partially because of Chinese views on the West, where the international success of American athletes corresponds with high national meat and milk consumption.
Asian populations tend to be lactose intolerant, making dairy products difficult to digest. But dairy foods are believed to promote faster growth and taller heights in children, which the government deems desirable. Many people can handle dairy foods, especially yogurt and other fermented varieties.
Beef and Broccoli
Beef is a type of meat that is difficult to find in China, but the main reason you won't find this stir-fry dish in China is because there's no broccoli in China or at least the type of broccoli that is sold in America, instead, they use a leafy vegetable called gai ian.
Roast lamb has been declared Australia's national dish in a major poll that shows we're still a country of meat eaters at heart.
Like New Zealand lamb, Australian lamb tends to come from smaller animals that have been entirely grass-fed on open pasture. It is leaner and has a deeper flavor than American lamb.