There are 8 Chinese Cuisines?? - What a Chinese American Didn't Know About Chinese Food

Ever since I was born, I ate Chinese food. I ate it at home and I ate it when I went out so naturally I thought I've seen and tasted it all.

That all changed when I moved to China for work.

It was there where I learned that I've only been eating a very specific Chinese cuisine. I didn't even know there were different cuisines. What's interesting is that they're all significantly different from each other. Since then, I've tried each type and learned to appreciate the qualities of each one.

This is probably not a shocker for anyone from China but for any Chinese-Americans out there, here is the list of the Eight (yes, eight!) Chinese cuisines conveniently named for the region they come from:

Zhejiang

This is the cuisine from my parent's hometown in Hangzhou. The taste is light and the popular ingredients is fresh fish, bamboo shoots and seafood. The major cooking methods are stir-frying, braising and steaming. Vinegar and sugar is the most popular marinade for meat and fish.

Hangzhou is also known for it's Longjing Tea.

Popular dishes: Shrimp in Longjing Tea and Dongpo Pork

Also known as Zhe Cai (Cai means cuisine in Chinese)

Jiangsu

Jiangsu cuisine comes from a region not too far from Hangzhou. The food is more flavorful than Zhe Cai and the major flavors are salty and sweet. There is an emphasis on freshness and the use of soup. The main cooking methods are braising, stir-frying and stewing. Presentation is also an important element in Jiangsu cuisine.

Popular dishes: Salted Dried Duck, Thin Tofu Skin, Lion's Head (meatball in crab shell powder)


Also known as Su Cai.

Fujian

We now head south to the Fujian region. The popular flavor is sweet and sour. The major cooking method is to cut up the food and then to stir-fry them or put them in soup. Common ingredients include seafood, pork, duck, chicken and beef. 

Popular dishes: Fried Xi Shi's Tongue (Mussels), Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (Sharkfin Soup), Jade Pearl Abalone

Also known as Min Cai.

Shandong

Shandong cuisine is crispy and salty. Since Shandong is in Northern China, there is a much higher use of Chinese bread than rice. Onion and garlic are common seasoning and most food are cooked through braising, stir frying and frying. Soups are also part of this cuisine. The common ingredients are seafood and vegetables.

Popular dishes: Braised Abalone, Crispy Carp, Sea Cucumber with Meatballs, Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea (Braised Shark Fin Soup)

Also known as Lu Cai.

Guandong

Growing up in New York, Guandong cuisine was by far the most popular cuisine. The flavor is sweet and the food can be both light and heavy. Ingredients include almost anything. Southern China has always been known to eat anything that flies, crawls, walks or swims. Foods are cooked by braising, sauteing, steaming or stewing and seasonings used are sugar and spiced salt.

Popular dishes: Suckling Pig, Won Ton, Dim Sum (spring rolls), Egg Custards


Also known as Cantonese Food or Yue Cai.

Sichuan

When people hear Sichuan (sometimes spelled Szechuan), they think spicy. The flavors are bold and there is alot of chili, garlic, peppers, gingers and peppercorns used. Peanut is also used as a common ingredient. Food is prepared with braising, stewing or stir-frying.

Popular dishes: Ma-Po Tofu (Stir-fried tofu with minced beef in spicy bean sauce), Twice-Cooked Pork, Kung Pao Chicken and Tea-Smoke Duck


Also know as Chuan Cai.

Hunan

Hunan cuisine is also spicy and food is commonly sauteed, stir-fried, stewed, steamed or smoked. The flavors are strong and common ingredients are meats, cabbage and frogs' legs. There is heavier use of oil and the colors are strong.

Popular dishes: Crispy Duck, Dong'an Chicken and Orange Beef.

Also known as Xiang Cai.

Anhui

Foods are commonly braised or stewed and considered healthier than other cuisines because there is less frying. Often-used ingredients include ham, mushrooms, berries and bamboo shoots. Seasoning is mainly sugar based.

Popular dishes: Braised Turtle with Ham, Fuliji Grilled Chicken, Dried Mushrooms, Stinky Tofu

Also known as Hui Cai.

So there it is, a short guide to different cuisines. Most restaurants will have on their signs or menus the type of cuisine they serve so I encourage you to try all the different foods.

Feel free to talk about your own experiences with these different Chinese cuisines in the comments section.