"food is the paramount necessity of the people." people never forget what to eat in each season.
after experiencing the hot summer days, people often have a poor appetite and consume more energy, resulting in weight loss. with the arrival of cool breeze in early autumn, appetite gradually returns to normal, and it's time to "add autumn fat".
in ancient times, people would weigh themselves on the first day of summer and autumn, comparing their weight to see how much "fat" they have lost. they would then go to the market to pick a few pounds of good meat, and cook it in various ways such as stewing, roasting, or braising. all kinds of meat dishes would be served on the table to "add fat" and increase nourishment, as people prepare to welcome the cool autumn and cold winter.
on august 8, 2019, customers are selecting various meat products in a meat shop in boxing county, binzhou city, shandong province. chen bin/vcg via getty images
in today's material abundance, "adding autumn fat" should still be done in moderation. indulging in appetite under the pretext of "adding autumn fat" can be detrimental to health.
in addition to "big fish and big meat," there are many other food options on the table in early autumn.
in northeast china, people usually eat dumplings on the first day of autumn. there is also a custom of "fighting for autumn fat" - whoever grabs dumplings from others' bowls will become strong and healthy.
eggplants, which have multiple nutritional values, ripen before and after the first day of autumn. combined with the story of general chang yuchun during the ming dynasty, who ruled the defeated yuan dynasty with both strictness and lenience, eating eggplants in beijing has become a tradition in early autumn.
people in shanxi province are accustomed to eating millet porridge on the first day of autumn to recuperate from the intestinal and gastric damage caused by summer heat. in the jiaodong region of shandong province, cooked soybean pulp, mixed with seasonal green vegetables, releases a faint fragrance. eating the soybean pulp of the first day of autumn is said to prevent stomach problems and diarrhea.
millet porridge. picture sourced from cfp
eating watermelon to "bite autumn" is a popular custom in the jiangsu and zhejiang regions. people believe it can prevent heat rash, diarrhea, malaria, and also symbolizes welcoming autumn. however, people with poor digestion should not blindly follow the trend of eating watermelon. in addition to watermelon, there are also customs in jiangsu and zhejiang to eat autumn peach, drink distilled liquor, and eat red adzuki beans, which are said to prevent illness and disasters. in jinhua, zhejiang province, jelly made from sweet potato starch is also a favorite on the first day of autumn.
on august 7, 2019, children are eating watermelons to "bite autumn" in zhejiang province, hangzhou city, lin'an district, tianmushan town, zhao village cultural hall. hu jianhuan/vcg via getty images
for the people of sichuan, "drinking autumn water" is an important ritual on the first day of autumn. drinking a glass of water at the exact time of the arrival of autumn can eliminate the accumulated summer heat.
when it comes to guangdong, the snacks in early autumn have their own unique charm. the people of lingnan pay attention to "autumn wind rising, eating cured meat." the market is full of fresh and fragrant cured pork. people in meizhou make rice cakes to celebrate family cohesion and the abundance of autumn. in the shantou region, vegetable and fruit stir-fry is made into a tea called "caicha." people gather with friends and relatives to drink a cup of caicha, which is refreshing and nutritious.
cured pork in guangdong. picture sourced from cfp
in addition, the weather gradually becomes dry after the first day of autumn, and the temperature difference between day and night increases. according to traditional chinese medicine, it is recommended to eat foods that nourish the lungs and moisturize the body. pear, honey, tremella, lotus seeds, lily, and chinese yam are all excellent choices for cooling and nourishing the lungs.
after reading this guide to the various foods eaten during the first day of autumn from north to south, which one would you like to try?