In Guangdong, Chinese New Year is a time when the air itself seems to simmer with the aromas of festive feasts and the promise of renewal. As the holiday approaches, families across the region prepare an array of traditional snacks and symbolic dishes, each crafted to usher in prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead.
Poon Choi, Guangdong
Poon Choi is a traditional Spring Festival delicacy in Guangdong, which originated in the late Southern Song Dynasty (1206-1279 AD). It contains up to 20 luxury ingredients, including meat, seafood, and vegetables. It is served in a big wooden bowl or clay pot, which was originally served in a washbasin. People eat the layered ingredients from top to bottom in order. Rich in ingredients, convenient to serve, the dish symbolizes "abundance and prosperity."
Roasted Goose, Dongguan
Shiqi braised pigeon, named after the Shiqi area of Zhongshan City, where it originated, comes from a hybrid breed developed over 100 years ago by crossing foreign and local varieties. It is nutritious and ideal for festivals, with a bright red color and a crispy and juicy texture. As a centuries-old classic Lingnan dish, roasted goose is essential at Cantonese feasts, representing good health and family growth. In Dalingshan Town of Dongguan City, the Lychee-wood roasted goose is famous for its distinct fruity scent. The unique production process and technique are also listed as a municipal intangible cultural heritage.
Braised Pigeon, Zhongshan
Shiqi braised pigeon, named after the Shiqi area of Zhongshan City where it originated, comes from a hybrid breed developed over 100 years ago by crossing foreign and local varieties. It is nutritious and ideal for festivals, with a bright red color and a crispy and juicy texture.
Golden Pomfret, Zhanjiang
The character "fish" symbolizes a wish for wealth and abundance. Steamed golden pomfret, preserving its original flavor, is a must-have festive fish dish at many family reunion dinners during the Chinese New Year in Guangdong. Among them, the species in Zhanjiang, China's capital of Golden Pomfret, is regarded as "a gift from the deep sea", which features tender flesh and rich nutrition.
White-cut Chicken, Qingyuan
There is an ancient Chinese saying, "No feast is complete without chicken". Qingyuan Chicken is widely regarded as the "No. 1 Chicken" in China, and is famous for its rich nutrition and tender meat. White-cut chicken is an undisputed main course at Guangdong banquets. It represents the concept of pursuing the original flavors of Cantonese cuisine and symbolizes good fortune.
Reporter丨Wang Shuhan, Zhou Jiyin
Editor | Yin Juewen
Poster丨Yang Chenyue