Bowls of sweet noodles are the usual way to celebrate birthdays; sweet poached eggs are usually served to people leaving home for afar or returning to their hometown; the first and last dishes served during a wedding feast should traditionally be sweet; and soup with small sweet balls of sticky rice is a must-have on a midwinter day.

Chaozhou is among the major sugar-baskets in China, and it has boasted a well-developed sugar-refining system since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which has probably contributed to the wide popularity of sweet food there.

Sweetmeats or sweet snacks have always playing a leading role in traditional festivals all over China, expressing people’s wish for a sweet life. It’s even said that not only the living, but also ghosts and gods like sweet food.

Spring Festival begins on the 23^rd day of the 12^th month of the lunar calendar and people offer a sacrifice to the Kitchen God on this day. One absolutely necessary offering is candy. According to ancient tradition, this is done to find favor with the Kitchen God so he will present a “sweetened” version of people’s deeds or misdeeds in his report to the heavenly Jade Emperor after they die.

 Bitter

Are you familiar with the bitterness of tea? Tea is just one of hundreds of bitter foods and beverages available in China. Strolling in a Chinese food market, you are sure to come across a wide variety of bitter food. Some have telling names like bitter melon (balsam pear), bitter buckwheat, or bitter tea; others are bitter in nature but have misleading names like lettuce; others are fresh herbs; while some you may not recognize at all.

A cup of Bitter Tea

Ways of cooking bitter food vary among regions in China. It can be stir-fried, or served cold. A small restaurant in Beijing may offer diners a menu of more than 30 bitter dishes.

Unlike sweet food, which is nourishing and calming, bitter food is cleansing and drying. It's very helpful for cleansing, getting the digestive system moving and improving bowel movements. The importance of bitter food to health was well known by ancient Chinese who believed bitter food could bring longevity.

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