The most common food that you should not eat on Chinese New Year is chicken as it is considered to be of bad luck since the birds scratch backwards. It implies that you are focusing on the past and needs to scrape by for a living. Lobsters, too are considered as one of the unlucky food to have during Chinese New Year.
Food is an important part of daily life for Chinese people. Chinese not only enjoy eating but believe eating good food can bring harmony and closeness to the family and relationships. Shopping daily for fresh food is essential for all Chinese cooking.
White Foods
Tofu, eggs, rice, cauliflower, white cheeses—say goodbye to them for the night. Instead, fill your New Year's table with other colorful foods. Greens of all kinds are said to bring wealth into your life, while anything yellow (think cornbread) is supposed to foretell prosperity and happiness.
For centuries, for reasons both economic and historic, the traditional Chinese diet has been primarily vegetarian -- featuring lots of vegetables, rice, and soybeans -- and containing only shavings of meat for flavoring, says Lan Tan, owner of Lan Tan's Chinese Cooking School in Durham, N.C. Many Chinese simply can't ...
Mealtimes in China are not very fixed; it depends on the individual. But with the timetables of work and school, the common mealtimes for Chinese are usually these three: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Two colors within Chinese culture, however, should be avoided: black and white, which are traditionally colors worn in times of mourning.
Chinese New Year celebrations are accompanied by specific rites and rituals with strict prohibitions and taboos. The Chinese refrain from using foul language or speaking inauspicious words such as “die”, “bad luck”, “lose” or “sick” to prevent misfortune befalling members of the family.
Mandarin oranges have always been considered as a traditional symbol of good fortune. This is mainly because the word orange, when spoken in mandarin, sounds similar to the word “wealth”. The orange hue of the fruit is also said to symbolise “gold”, which makes it a very auspicious fruit.
Meanwhile, in China
Did you know that Chinese people don't usually say anything before digging in? I was surprised as well. However, if you still want to be polite and express it verbally, the typical phrase spoken when serving food is qǐng màn yòng (請慢用).
Some people experience symptoms, such as breathing difficulties, headaches, and sweating, after eating monosodium glutamate (MSG). However, there is no evidence that MSG is harmful. MSG is a food additive that enhances flavor. It is commonly used in restaurants and pre-packaged foods.
Worst: General Tso's Chicken
One order clocks in at around 1,500 calories and 88 grams of fat, and it delivers more sodium than you should get in a day. Other fried dishes to watch out for: sesame, orange, and sweet and sour chicken.
Always leave food on your plate in China.
That's not so in China. Finishing your plate when dining at someone's home in China suggests the food wasn't filling enough, and that your host was skimping on the portion size. Always leave behind a little food to show the host that their meal was filling and satisfying.
The PRC Food Safety Law sets out comprehensive statutory requirements governing the production, circulation, recall and import/export of food products in China. Additional regulatory requirements apply to different stages of food safety.
In Chinese culture, some of the most common taboos involve gift-giving, birthdays, and weddings.
It is widely known that Chinese people love red because it is perceived to symbolise luck, blessings and happiness. In contrast, blue is considered a 'taboo' colour. This belief is found in regional folktales and is especially strong in several parts of southern China, notably Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
(I) Red — Happiness, Success and Good Fortune
Red represents fire and is the most popular color in China. It is also the national color representing happiness, beauty, vitality, good luck, success and good fortune.
RED. As a symbol of joy, celebration, vitality, success and good fortune, red is the luckiest color in Chinese culture. It's famously used in important events such as weddings and festivals like Chinese New Year. You'll see everything from red lanterns lining the streets to red outfits and red letters pasted on doors.
Red, yellow and green are considered 'auspicious' according to Chinese traditions. These primary colours come from the Chinese Five Elements Theory, where red represents 'fire', yellow represents 'earth', green or blue represents 'wood', white represents 'metal' and black represents 'water'.
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.
General Tso Chicken – According to Grubhub, this sweet fried chicken dish is the most popular Chinese food in America. It's also unhealthy, considering that it is deep-fried and the recipe demands tons of sugar.
Hard-boiled eggs, cellophane noodles, fish and chicken are all associated with prosperity. Long noodles represent longevity, and the Chinese eat them whole -- it's said that cutting them up in the bowl might lead to a short life.