A Must-Try Food in Your Yunnan Tour
Yunnan, known as 'South of the colorful clouds', is a stunning and captivating province located in southwest China. If you have ever embarked on a Yunnan Tour in China, you would know that it offers much more than just picturesque landscapes. It provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of the local ethnic minorities and indulge in the delightful flavors of Yunnan cuisine, known for its distinctive local characteristics, in the region's restaurants.
During your Yunnan tour, you'll have the opportunity to indulge in the delectable Yunnan cuisine served in local restaurants. Renowned for its bold flavors, vibrant colors, and diverse ingredients sourced from the region's fertile land, Yunnan cuisine offers a culinary experience like no other. Each dish tells a story, reflecting the rich culinary heritage and cultural fusion that defines Yunnan's gastronomy. When you visit Yunnan, be sure to try the three must-try Yunnan dishes: Cross-bridge rice noodles, steam-pot chicken, and wild mushroom hotpot. These dishes not only boast incredible flavors but also represent the characteristic essence of the local cuisine.
Must try Dishes in Yunnan
Cross-bridge Rice Noodle (Guoqiao Mixian)
Cross-bridge Rice Noodle is a kind of popular Yunnan cuisine in China, it is no exaggeration to say that the "Cross-bridge Rice Noodle" restaurants are around every city of China, of course, The cross-bridge Rice Noodles in Yunnan restaurants are the most authentic, don't miss this local Yunnan cuisine when you are taking a Yunnan Tour or travel to Yunnan. The Cross-bridge Rice Noodles mainly consist of delicate soup, tender meat, and more than 30 kinds of seasonings, when you enjoy this special food, a small earthen pot with boiling and transparent chicken soup will be put in front of you, then you add different kinds of sliced meat, stir them gently and then put the rice noodle into the pot, you can also add different kinds of vegetables and seasonings according to your own favorites. Food with different colors in the pot reflects each other and it tastes very delicious.
Steam-pot Chicken (Qi Guo Ji)
The Steam-pot Chicken is a unique traditional Yunnan cuisine when you travel to Yunnan and it is also a must-try during your Yunnan Tour. It spread over from the south of Yunan area since the Qing dynasty. The steam pot is an oblate, always brown or reddish brown bucket, the special part is that there is a projecting and hollowly smallmouth in the center of the pot's bottom, the vapor will surge into the pot when you steam the chicken, that's why this Yunnan cuisine is named "steam-pot chicken". Put the fresh chicken with seasonings into the pot, cover with the lid, then put the pot into a soup boiler. The chicken is steamed with vapor, and even the filling soup is condensed steam, in this way, the chicken will be extremely tender and delicate, and most importantly it is rich in nutrition.
Yunnan Barbecued Pork (Shao Kao)
Shao Kao refers to the Chinese style of barbecue, and in Yunnan, it's especially known for its pork variety. The pork is often marinated with a mixture of local spices and then grilled over charcoal. Yunnanese barbecue is renowned for its smoky flavor and slightly crispy texture. It's commonly served with a variety of dipping sauces, from spicy to savory, and often accompanied by grilled vegetables or bread.
Shao Kao it’s a popular street food and a staple at local gatherings and night markets, reflecting the social aspect of Yunnan's food culture.
Wild-mushroom Hot pot (Jun Zhong Huo Guo)
You'll know that the wild-mushroom hot pot is a kind of very popular Yunnan cuisine. When you travel to Yunnan, there are so many kinds of nutritional wild mushrooms. So when you travel to Yunnan you must have a try of the local fresh wild mushrooms, especially some newly picked after the rain. Don't forget to taste the hot pot soup after you have a feast of wild mushrooms, that will be natural and fresh.
Yunnan's Cheese - Rubing
Rubing is a firm, fresh cheese made from goat’s milk, resembling halloumi or paneer. It's a unique element in Yunnan's cuisine, reflecting the influence of the region's ethnic minorities.
Often is served fried or grilled, Rubing is enjoyed either as a savory snack with a dip of salt and pepper or sweet with a drizzle of rose petal jam or honey.
Its preparation and consumption are particularly significant among the Bai people, and it's a must-try for those looking to experience the full range of Yunnan's diverse culinary offerings.
Do not miss Yunnan's favorite snack: delicious Erkuai
While the ingredients are no less diverse than those used in Sichuan cuisine, what makes Yunnan cuisine stand out is its unique blend of flavors, contributed by the province's numerous ethnic minorities. One item that is exclusive to Yunnan is called 'erkuai', a popular snack and one of Yunnan's famous "18 Oddities."
Literally translated, erkuai means "earpiece" but is a type of rice-derived cake named for the ear shape it commonly takes. In fact, rice is the only ingredient used in erkuai - washed and steamed twice to make it whiter and softer, and then quickly dropped into a stone mortar and pounded with a wooden pestle. After thoroughly mashing the rice, the dough-like result is kneaded on a wooden board to further push out any remaining air bubbles. The result is freshly made erkuai, an aromatic rice dough that can be prepared in several different ways or eaten as-is.
Erkuai can be cut into slices and cooked like noodles, grilled, barbecued, pan-fried with vegetables into a pancake, or even rolled flat and filled with savory meats and vegetables like a Mexican burrito. However, the most popular way to eat erkuai is as a quick and easy breakfast item, rolled into a round flat cake and wrapped around either sweet fillings like peanuts, sugar, and molasses, or with a spicy combination of nuts, chilies, and Sichuan pepper.
Yunnan's erkuai has a rich history dating back 400 years, and in fact, the traditional way of making erkuai was listed as an intangible cultural relic in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, in 2005. On your next visit to mysterious Shangri-la in northeast Yunnan or overland trek to Tibet through this unique province, don't miss a chance to try delicious erkuai - and see how many of the other 18 oddities you can spot along the way!
Go on Yunnan tour and enjoy the feast of Yunnan cuisine, you won't disappoint at the famous Cross-bridge rice noodle, the unique steam-pot chicken, and the delicate wild-mushroom hot pot. "The Ancient City Autumn Moon Pavilion Bar" -- "Guchengqiuyuege" in Lijiang Ancient Town, the steam-pot chicken restaurant --"Fuzhaolou Qiguo " restaurant in Kunming near the airport, and The Lijiang Flavor -- "Lijiang Ziwei" in Lijiang are good Yunnan restaurants to taste the local Yunnan cuisine.