the method to make chinese

China
August 23, 2011 11:42pm CST
there are numerous kinds of chinese food, and in mirror there are kinds of methods to make the chinese. Except the known methods such as frying, braising and blasting, there exists sch method that can't be accepted by the foreigners.For example, the method to make the preserved flowering cabbage. the mmethod can't be accepted others for it containing a process of making the cabbage to decay. in many people's eyes, once the food decay, it can't be ate any more. however it's the decaying that makes the food so fragance and also a unique taste.
4 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
24 Aug 11
The method you describe is called fermenting and uses certain specific bacteria in a very controlled way. It is certainly not 'decay' in the normal sense! It is actually very similar to the German method of preserving cabbage called Sauerkraut, so it is not specifically Chinese and such methods of preserving foods are found all over the world.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
25 Aug 11
Although the Chinese have been credited with the first invention of many things, there is really 'nothing new under the sun'. A great many things have been discovered independently all over the world. Sometimes one is forced to wonder just how some things, like preserving cabbage or broccoli/cauliflower - which I think is what you mean by 'cabbage flowers') in the way you describe), were discovered. Our ancestors were often truly brilliant 'scientists', even though we don't often think of them as such, and have left us a marvellous and rich legacy of knowledge!
• China
25 Aug 11
thanks for your correcting. with your help, i brodened my knowledge
• Philippines
24 Aug 11
Decaying is not the proper word for such preparation. The proper term is food preservation or fermenting the food. The cabbage is either soaked in a saline solution with other herbs and spices wherein after a period of storage will be ready for consumption. lets put it this way, its an acquired taste..some of the Asian flavors are a bit odd compared to Western Culuture...
• China
25 Aug 11
thank for your word feermenting. i truly don't know how to descibe it in English.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
24 Aug 11
is this of chinese nature? the only thing i know as a signature chinese food that includes aging or decaying would be the century egg.. the cabbage though is the kimchi right.. and its korean?
• China
24 Aug 11
no, Chinese makes food in this has its reason.It is very damp in some place of China and the food in this place are easily to decay. So maybe it's a way human adapt to the nature.And the preserved cabbage is not the Korean food. It almost contains no water.
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
15 Nov 11
I very much like Chinese food. Very delicious. There is a huge Chinatown here in the City, and I go there often for lunch and dinner. I prefer going for buffets. For cooking myself, I am not good at cooking at all. I would very much like to try.