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5 Debunked Myths On Chinese Cuisine

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The Chinese culture has already taken the world by storm with its yummy foods and cuisines. Because of that, people tend to believe things about Chinese food that actually turn out to be misconceptions, whether they’re plain silly or simply incorrect. But can you really trust these myths?

Don’t you worry! We compiled a list of Chinese food myths that have been debunked. Get ready for the shockers!

  1. It Leaves You Hungry

Have you ever eaten Chinese food in large portions? If so, you would’ve most likely come across the myth that Chinese food always leaves you hungry, right? Well, think again!

“This myth is based solely on the historical fact that the Chinese used to cook small portions, in comparison to many Western cultures,” said Jacob K. Santillo, a lifestyle blogger at Studydemic.com and Academized.com “Thus, the food that the Chinese would eat – food that lacked nutrition, and wasn’t a good portion size – would never be that filling. Luckily, the portion sizes have grown since then and leave people full instead of feeling hunger pangs at the end. And nowadays, Chinese cuisine accounts for both protein and fiber, which keeps your hunger pangs under control.”

  1. On The Menu: Dog And Cat

Sure, Chinese restaurants may feature specialties like frog, rabbit, duck, etc on the menu. Or, in some parts of China, you might find a dog or cats as menu items. So, it’s easy to assume that Chinese food can be weird and/or disgusting at times, making foodies either curious or second-guessing it.

However, this myth is touch and go at this point in time. With the active protests against the consumption of dog meat from animal rights groups on the rise, and that it’s been gaining unpopularity over the years, this myth might soon be a thing of the past. 

  1. Soy Sauce Always Contains… Soy!

Don’t be fooled! Just because it says “soy sauce” on the label, doesn’t mean that it contains soy. In other words, beware of imitations!

In America, the little plastic packets of soy sauce have virtually nothing to do with having soy in it. In fact, these “soy sauce” packets are actually a mixture of syrup and food coloring, which give off the convincing appearance of the sauce.

On the other hand, the authentic version of soy sauce can only be found in China and Japan, because they tend to brew their sauce from actual soybeans. So, if you have a craving for soy sauce, but want the real stuff instead of imitations, then find a grocery store in China or Japan.

  1. Point Me To P.F. Chang’s!

ActuallyP.F. Chang was the West’s response in welcoming Chinese food, making it a mainstream restaurant chain, instead of an authentic industry straight out of China. 

In fact, you won’t find a P.F. Chang’s in China.

P.F. Chang's China BistroWhat draws people to trying Chinese cuisine is the idea that it can either be sweet, vinegary, spicy or a combination of each. Thus, the adventurous foodie would consider Cantonese, Hunan, and Sichuan foods that China has to offer – but can’t he/she have it in the US? Yes and no – but most likely no, because Chinese restaurants in the US tend to use substitutions, rather than the authentic ingredients. So, it’s safe to say that authentic Chinese food from China will taste different than the Chinese food produced in the US.

  1. Fortune Cookies Came From China

“Fortune cookies did not come from China,” said Samuel Rose, a food blogger at Simplegrad.com and Uktopwriters.com “They were actually started in the United States. Fortune-CookiesBefore World War I, Japanese immigrants first made these cookies in their bakeries. Eventually, the cookies grew in popularity, with many Chinese restaurants replicating the recipe and selling it to the masses. One company, in the ‘90s, had tried taking their fortune cookies to start a business in China, but the Chinese weren’t interested since the product was ‘too American’ for them. Thus, the fortune cookie craze can be found mainly in the US.”

To be fair, the Chinese had their own cookies that had fortunes scribed onto a piece of paper, but their cookies looked and tasted different than the Americanized fortune cookies.

Conclusion

Were you baffled by the Chinese food myths that were debunked? If so, then now you know! So, go ahead and enjoy your favorite foods that China has to offer! Happy eating!

Molly Crockett writes for Bigassignments.com and Oxessays.com, as well as contributes to online sites, such as Eliteassignmenthelp.com online writing service. As a travel blogger, she enjoys sharing her experiences and her latest personal development ideas.

The Chinese Quest welcomes original articles pertaining to the Chinese dining experience.  Your article should pertain to Chinese restaurants, Chinese food, recipes, etc.  For more information, please contact us.

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One comment

  1. You guys are a beacon of light at the end of this complaining department.
    I’m paying attention and today I’ve cooked some Chinese eggplant to go with my sauce, and I’m going to love it. I follow your web updates and I still love going to Chinese restaurants for some healthy and wonderful food.
    I’m not saying that I go there with the crowds why because there is a pandemic going on, but I do shop oriental and eat asian, I think there both the same~ right?
    Love ya and keep up your informative and kind work

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