5 of the greatest Chinese cultural exports, from foods and tea to calligraphy and Confucianism

Chinese history has produced many cultural exports, particularly to East and Southeast Asia. Here are five of the most significant: 1. Hanzi (Chinese characters) Calligraphy dates back 3,000 years in China, and was exported to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Photo: Shutterstock The logographic system of Chinese languages is widely accepted by world scholars as one … Read more

Opinion | Soybeans: healthy and full of protein, they’ve fed China for centuries – here’s how they’re processed, their products, and why they have a lesbian link

Among the healthiest and most easily digestible sources of vegetable protein, the humble soybean – known in Cantonese as daai dau (“great bean”) – has provided varied sources of taste and nutrition in China, and other parts of East Asia, for more than 2,000 years. Soybeans are produced in massive quantities all over the world, … Read more

Opinion | Why Chinese love fermented bean curd and even stinky tofu: it’s cheap, adds flavour to rice and congee, is a good source of protein, and lots more

Humble, pungent-tasting foo yu – fermented blocks of bean curd – are a staple of cuisines across China and the diaspora. A favourite from when I first encountered them in the home of Chinese friends in Malaysia, long before coming to live in Hong Kong, this inexpensive item has been a kitchen store-cupboard favourite ever … Read more