1 . One of the most popular street food found in China is no doubt the barbecue. A new programme, called the Story of Chuaner, tells the story of this popular food cooked over hot coals on just about every street corner in cities and towns across the country. Barbecued meat is an important part of people’s nightlife.

Shown on June 20, the programme has had more than 25 million clicks on the video site bilibili.com. To find the most popular barbecue stalls (摊位), the production team travelled to more than 500 locations in 30 cities across the country. Some viewers compare the Story of Chuaner to Midnight Diner, a Japanese TV programme telling stories from late-might informal Japanese bars.

“I’m happy to hear this comparison because Midnight Diner is a good programme, and we share the same topic-night food,” the Story of Chuaner’s director Chen Yingjie said. “However, they are quite different.” He said that Midnight Diner focused more on food itself, though there was some conversation while people were eating. However, the night food scene of Chinese people means joy and a more lively atmosphere. People eating these barbecue snacks develop a feeling of connection, which can be a cure for loneliness.

The barbecue, regarded as the most ordinary and common night street snack, is different from home-made food by mothers as that is a symbol of family and kinship. The barbecue is where you go to become connected to people in society. And unlike official business lunches, during which people are rather polite, the barbecue lets people relax with old friends and new friends, leaving a lasting impression of friendship.

The world, as a whole, holds deep-rooted good feelings towards the barbecue, either for the taste or the warmth produced by fire. “What we should do is to present the Chinese barbecue just the way it is because with its special ingredients (食材), ways of cooking and more importantly, the special environment and people, the world will recognise it and might fall in love with it just as we do,” said Chen.

2 . While tea may have its origins in Asia, now it has found its way into their food culture and traditions in many countries. It is a special way of connecting people all over the world in different ways and ceremonies. That finally all results in a group of people sitting together and enjoying a cup of tea.

Chinese tea culture

Since China is considered as the birthplace of tea, it is no wonder that Chinese tea culture is rich in history and tradition. Today, Chinese tea continues to be used in Chinese medicine and is commonly used on both formal and informal occasions either for personal enjoyment or as a Chinese cultural tradition.

Japanese tea culture

Japan also has a long history with tea, especially Japanese Matcha, which is a kind of ground green tea. Japanese tea is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies and only in recent years has become popular in western culture.

British tea culture

When it comes to British tea, British tea culture is what comes to mind. A hot cup of Earl Grey tea often serves with a little milk and a biscuit in the afternoon as a pick-me-up for the day, which makes you feel better and more energetic. Even though tea may not be native to England, this British tea tradition is still going strong today.

Moroccan tea culture

When you visit Morocco, it is hard to miss the outstanding tea culture that is such a special way to welcome guests. Before any gathering, a pot of mint(薄荷)tea is always prepared and served among the host and guests. This is an expression of Moroccan tradition and kindness, which should always be accepted by guests as a sign of appreciation and respect to the host.

During the Tomb Sweeping Festival, apart from visiting to tombs, I spent a week help my family pick tea. It was hard job. I started out with picking early in mornings and went back late in evenings. I suffered the pain from my back and legs, that was an experience to remember the hardship of life, but I think it was an unforgettable memory. Do this job is not that easy. Tea is to be picked and then collect together for being processed in a machine. It is getting more conveniently to process tea by machines than by hand. Beside, there is no need to sell tea to factories for money anymore. We just made it for ourselves. Chinese tea is nice and I often drink them with great satisfaction.

5 . Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed all around the world. Who doesn’t ______ a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting ______ concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard-of in the West, and ______ ignored by the youth of the East the ancient custom of “tonic (滋补) food”.

Tonic food is food consumed to improve one’s well-being or ______ sickness. ______, it was once the ______ for new mother to eat a sesame-oil (麻油) hotpot every day for the first month after giving ______. It was believed that this dish would ______ the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulations, stimulate sweating and ______ the body.

Some food are ______ as “hot”, such as goat meat and coriander (香菜), while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radish (小萝卜) are“cold”. One should be ______ not to eat too much “hot” or “cold” food. ______, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat ______ the time of the year, ______ the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual’s ______.

The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also ______ the catering (餐饮) industry. Some Chinese herbal medicines can often be found on many a restaurant ______. Whether you need to ______ yourself to boost your energy with a large helping of chicken soup or increase your ______ power with a serving of pig’s brain soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be ______ the tonic you are looking for.

6 . Important Things to Know When Dining Out

Cultural dining etiquette (礼节) might surprise you with some of its important rules.     1    . Knowing some tips will help ensure that you have an enjoyable meal with friends or family — no matter where you are in the world.

The way you handle chopsticks is important to avoid annoying your companions. When you put them down between bites, always put them down together so they are parallel with the edge of the table in front of you.     2    .

In India and the Middle East, it’s considered very rude to eat with your left hand. People in France expect you to eat with a utensil in each hand.     3    , instead preferring to use their hands. In Chile, you may never touch any food with your fingers. People in Thailand generally use their forks only to push food onto their spoons.

    4    . In Portugal, this would be a serious mistake, because it shows the chef that you don’t like their seasoning skills. Similarly, in Italy, never ask for extra cheese to add to your food.

Some of these cultural dining etiquette rules may seem random and strange, but they are important in various countries.     5    , the more comfortable you’ll begin to feel with its foreign cultural practices.

10 . A new documentary, Pot of Fire, went online on Tencent Video on Feb 14, allowing netizens to “enjoy” hotpot together on the Internet. No food other than hotpot is so welcomed by Chinese people.    1     .

As one of the famous meals in China, hotpot has been popular for ages, for it’s “free-for-all and healthy way”, according to National Public Radio. From vegetables to meat, from noodles to seafood, diners can add different ingredients to the soup to cook. Unlike frying or other cooking methods, boiling food only releases their nutrients into the soup.    2     Besides , hotpot can bring warmth to our body and improve blood circulation in winter, and increase sweat to help cool the body in summer, according to China Highlights.

But eating hotpot is much more than an enjoyment for our taste buds and health.    3    For most Chinese people, eating hotpot is usually a social event. A survey by Chenzhi Catering Database showed that 40. 2 percent of Chinese usually eat hotpot with friends, while 17. 6 percent use the occasion for a family reunion. When a group of people sit around a table to eat, chat and drink, it’s a good time.“As the food continues to boil in the soup, we keep drinking and chatting with each other.    4     ” said Yu Jiaqing, a 28- year -old luxury brand marketing staffer from Beijing.

    5     Or, at least you can watch Pot of Fire. As a popular saying goes, “There’s nothing to worry about after having a hotpot. If you are still worried, then go for it twice.”