Find traditional Chinese cuisines hidden in the film, Ne Zha 2.
Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 is currently screening worldwide. Apart from its stunning visuals and compelling story, there is also some traditional Chinese food hidden in the film. In the UK. If the movie is making you hungry but you can’t find the Chinese food in the UK, we’ve found some local alternatives.
Lotus Root Powder vs. Arrowroot Powder
In the film, Nezha and his ally Aobing’s souls are saved after a catastrophe, but they struggled to maintain their physical forms. The immortal Taiyi Zhenren (the master of Nezha) then uses lotus root powder to reshape their bodies.
Lotus root powder is a special product in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Originated in the Southern Song Dynasty, this kind of food has a history of over 800 years. It was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Zhejiang Province.
In the UK, the arrowroot powder is similar to China’s lotus root powder. Arrowroot powder has been a home remedy for gastrointestinal disorders, and commonly used as gluten-free substitutes for flour in bread making, since it is reputedly the most digestible starch.
Chuanyu Hotpot vs. Lancashire Hotpot
Taiyi Zhenren in the film speaks Sichuan Mandarin. In order to find materials to reshape Nezha and Aobing’s physical bodies, Nezha’s father Li Jing gathered all possible local ingredients. However, Taiyi Zhenren, whose hometown is Sichuan, temporarily suffered from amnesia due to lightning strikes, made hot pot with the ingredients.
Chinese hot pot is one of the most popular meals in China. It has a long history of over 1,000 years an dis popular to have for meals out and made at home. There are several types of Chinese hotpot, but the Chuanyu (Sichuan and Chongqing) hotpot is the most famous. Both are important parts of China’s intangible cultural heritage.
In the UK, although there is no a traditional dish that exactly equivalent to the Chinese hotpot, some dishes can share the similar eating experience such as the Lancashire hotpot. It is a stew originating in Lancashire in the North West of England. It consists of lamb or mutton and onion, topped with sliced potatoes and slowly baked in a pot at a low heat.
Ba Da Cha vs. Fish and Chips
In the film, the octopus general speaking Tianjin dialect left a deep impression on the audience when he ate his own feet after his body was heated by Samadhi True Fire (三昧真火, fire with mysterious power).
Seafood is a key ingredient in Tianjin cuisine. “Ba Da Cha”(八大馇) is a typical dish from the region. “Cha,” originating from the Qin Dynasty over 2000 years ago, is a relatively primitive cooking method that involves boiling fresh seafood in seawater without adding any seasonings.
Although octopus is not a common ingredient in the traditional diet of UK, everyone knows Britain’s long history of eating seafood. Fish and chips are an undisputed national dish, and a must try for any visitor. If you’re looking for something a little different, Jellied eels are another traditional English dish that originated in the 18th century.
Written by Liu Sha, pictures designed by Dai Qing.
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