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The unusual ingredients of meals in China

It is common knowledge that Asian culture is different from what we may be accustomed to in our countries of America and Europe, although there are also ingredients that surprise us; However, these ingredients to prepare meals in China , will leave you with your mouth open.

Do you know the most unusual ingredients of meals in China?

There is a Cantonese saying that “anything that walks, swims, crawls or flies with its back to the sky is edible.” So it is not surprising that in China they eat several unusual foods.

Here are some examples of these:

«Stinky tofu»

The unusual ingredients of meals in China

Stinky tofu (also known by its Chinese name , Chou Dofu) is one of those foods that is impossible to face in a neutral way, you love it or you hate it.Asian tourists who follow your nose will have no problem locating a stinky tofu stand.

Take a brine made with shrimp, vegetables and salt, ferments for months, r Throw a block of tofu in it for several hours, and you will have the dish, famous for its pungent smell.

"Thousand-year-old eggs" (not so old)

A more exact name for this hors d'oeuvre would be salted or preserved eggs. Thousand-year-old eggs (also called centenary eggs or centenary eggs) are made keeping the duck eggs in ashes and salt for a hundred days.This turns the white of the egg a dark gray color, giving the eggs an old look.

Definitely not for all palates, eggs Millennials have a strong salty taste.

«Bird's Nest Soup»

The unusual ingredients of meals in China

The main ingredient In the bird's nest soup is the swiftlet nest, a very small bird that lives in caves in Southeast Asia.

Instead of twigs and straw, the swiftlet makes a nest of its own saliva , is the only bird in the world that can make the hazana.The collection of these nests requires great skill, men must balance on bamboo poles to grab the nests inside the caves, in the dark.

Apparently, the bird's nest tastes pretty insipid .His recent increase in popularity comes from his growing reputation, both as a health tonic and an aphrodisiac.

"Sea cucumber"

The unusual ingredients of meals in China

It seems a piece of cement in one of the showcases of Chinese medicine stores.This is the dried form of sea cucumber, also known as bhehe de mer and sea ginseng.

It is strange creature looks exactly like a cucumber, but with feet and a ring of tentacles around its mouth.

The strange ingredient has a high medicinal value and reputation as an aphrodisiac. It is popular at the Chinese New Year banquets and other festive celebrations.

What do you think about these ingredients from Chinese foods? Do you know others? Tell us what they are.

You may also be interested:

The most shocking of life in Ancient China

Images: David Bote Estrada, Lucius Kwok, Dennis Tang, David Wallace, Brett Hodnett

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