A Bite of China
A Bite of China (Chinese: 舌尖上的中国; pinyin: Shéjiān shàng de Zhōngguó) is a 2012 Chinese documentary television series on the history of food, eating, and cooking in
China directed by Chen Xiaoqing (陈晓卿), narrated by Li Lihong (李立宏) with original music composed by Roc Chen (阿鲲). It first aired May 14, 2012 on China Central
Television and quickly gained high ratings and widespread popularity.The seven-episode documentary series, which began filming in March 2011, introduces the history
and story behind foods of various kinds in more than 60 locations in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The documentary has also been actively encouraged as a means of
introducing Chinese food culture to those unfamiliar with local cuisine. Various notable chefs such as Shen Hongfei and Chua Lam were consultants on the project.
A Bite of China attracted high ratings during its nightly airing on CCTV-1, drawing an estimated 100 million viewers. It also has an overall approval rating of 91% on Douban.
Oliver Thring of The Guardian praised it as “the best TV show I’ve ever seen about food. I’d hazard it’s the best one ever made.
Season 1
Gifts from Nature (自然的馈赠)
The Story of Staple Foods (主食的故事)
Inspiration for Change (转化的灵感)
The Taste of Time – This episode focuses on the different preservation techniques and preserved food across the regions (时间的味道)
Secrets of the Kitchen (厨房的秘密)
A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors (五味的调和)
Our Farm (我们的田野)
Episode Ttitle Dish (Chinese) Dish (English) Location
1 Gifts from Nature 烤松茸 Grilled Matsutake Xamgyi’nyilha County, Yunnan
1 Gifts from Nature 油焖冬笋 Stewed bamboo shoots Suichang County, Zhejiang
1 Gifts from Nature 黄豆酸笋小黄鱼 Deep-fried little yellow croakers fried with soybean and pickled bamboo shoots Liuzhou, Guangxi
1 Gifts from Nature 螺蛳粉 Rice flour and garnish in snail soup sauce Guangxi
1 Gifts from Nature 腌笃鲜 Pickled pork simmered with bamboo shoots Suichang County, Zhejiang
1 Gifts from Nature 莴笋炒火腿 Celtuce with Nuodeng ham Dali, Yunnan
1 Gifts from Nature 火腿炒饭 Nuodeng ham with rice Dali, Yunnan
1 Gifts from Nature 炸藕夹 deep-fried lotus root sandwich Jiayu County, Hubei
1 Gifts from Nature 莲藕炖排骨 Stewed spareribs and lotus root Jiayu County, Hubei
1 Gifts from Nature 酸辣藕丁 Sour and hot diced lotus root Jiayu County, Hubei
1 Gifts from Nature 鱼头泡饼 Fish head soup and baked pancake of Chinese style Chagan Lake, Jilin
1 Gifts from Nature 垮炖杂鱼 Stewed fish of various kinds in thick soybean sauce of Chinese Northeast style Chagan Lake, Jilin
1 Gifts from Nature 水煮红螺 Sanya, Hainan
1 Gifts from Nature 香煎马鲛鱼 Fried scomberomorus Sanya, Hainan
1 Gifts from Nature 蒜烧池子鱼 Sanya, Hainan
1 Gifts from Nature 酸菜炮弹鱼 boiled Bullet mackerel with pickled cabbage Sanya, Hainan
2 The Story of Staple Foods 花馍 Dingcun, Xiangfen, Shanxi
2 The Story of Staple Foods 黄馍馍 Steamed broom corn millet bun Suide County, Shaanxi
2 The Story of Staple Foods 馕 Naan Kuche, Xinjiang
2 The Story of Staple Foods 黎平汤粉 Liping, Guizhou
2 The Story of Staple Foods 干炒牛河 Rice-flour noodles with stir-fried beef Guangzhou
2 The Story of Staple Foods 肉夹馍 Rou jia mo Xi’an
2 The Story of Staple Foods 泡馍 Paomo Xi’an
2 The Story of Staple Foods 兰州牛肉面 Lanzhou beef lamian Lanzhou
2 The Story of Staple Foods 竹升面 Jook-sing noodles Guangzhou
2 The Story of Staple Foods 长寿面 Dingcun, Xiangfen，Shanxi
2 The Story of Staple Foods 岐山臊子面 Qishan minced noodles Qishan, Shaanxi
2 The Story of Staple Foods 嘉兴肉粽子 Jiaxing sticky rice dumpling Jiaxing, Zhejiang
2 The Story of Staple Foods 宁波年糕 Ningbo rice cake Ningbo, Zhejiang
2 The Story of Staple Foods 梭子蟹炒年糕 rice cake stir-fried with crabs Ningbo, Zhejiang
2 The Story of Staple Foods 焖面 braised noodles Beijing
2 The Story of Staple Foods 饺子 Jiaozi Beijing
3 Inspiration for Change 豆腐 Tofu Jianshui, Yunnan/Shiping, Yunnan/Shou County, Anhui
3 Inspiration for Change 奶豆腐/奶茶 Quark and milk tea Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia
3 Inspiration for Change 黄酒/酱油 Shaoxing Wine and soy sauce Shaoxing
4 The Taste of Time 泡菜 Kimchi Yanbian Prefecture, Jilin
4 The Taste of Time 腊肠(和興腊味) Preserved Sausage (Wo Hing Preserved Meats) Hong Kong
4 The Taste of Time 腌鱼, 腊肉 Cured Fish, Preserved Pork Xiangxi Prefecture, Hunan
4 The Taste of Time 金华火腿 Jinhua ham Jinhua, Zhejiang
4 The Taste of Time 虾酱 Shrimp paste Hong Kong
5 Secrets of the Kitchen 汽锅鸡 Boiler chicken Kunming
5 Secrets of the Kitchen 包子 Baozi Yangzhou
5 Secrets of the Kitchen 葱烧海参 Braised sea cucumber Shandong
5 Secrets of the Kitchen 西湖醋鱼 Hangzhou
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 糖葱薄饼 Shantou
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 熏鸭 Xiashan
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 酱排骨 Wuxi
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 陈皮鸭 Macau
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 盐焗鸡 Salt baked chicken Guangdong
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 糖醋排骨 Zhenjiang
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 鱼香肉丝 Sichuan
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 豆瓣酱 Sichuan
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 麻婆豆腐 Sichuan
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 藤椒鱼 Sichuan
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 麻辣火锅 Hot pot Chongqing
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 紫菜蛋汤 Shantou
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 鱼丸紫菜煲 Shantou
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 清蒸鱼 Steamed fish Guangzhou
6 A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors 白切鸡 Steamed chicken Guangzhou
7 Our Farm 酸汤鱼 Congjiang, Yunnan
7 Our Farm 葱烧海参 Zhangzidao, Liaoning
7 Our Farm 赛螃蟹
7 Our Farm 蟹黄汤包 Crab-roe tang bao Jingjiang, Jiangsu
7 Our Farm 蟹黄汪豆腐 Xinghua, Jiangsu
7 Our Farm 芋头红烧肉 Xinghua, Jiangsu
7 Our Farm 青稞酒 Tibet
7 Our Farm 油炸倭瓜花 Beijing
7 Our Farm 角瓜饺子 Beijing
Season 2
Footsteps (脚步)
Heart’s Message (心传)
Seasons (时节)
Daily Domestics (家常)
Encounters (相逢)
Realm of Secrets (秘境)
Three Meals (三餐)
Trailer (花絮)
Episode Title Dish (Chinese) Dish (English) Location
1 Footsteps 麻辣香肠 Spicy sausage
1 Footsteps 蜜汁鳗鱼 Honey-glazed eel
1 Footsteps 清炖跳跳鱼 Stewed mudskippers
1 Footsteps 山东煎饼 Shandong pancake rolls Shandong
1 Footsteps 潮州春卷 Chaozhou spring rolls Chaozhou, Guangdong
1 Footsteps 雷山鱼酱 Leishan fish sauce Leishan County, Guizhou
2 Heart’s Message 菜籽油 Rapeseed Oil She County, Anhui
2 Heart’s Message 挂面 Hanging Noodles Shaanxi
2 Heart’s Message 糯米卷 Glutinous Rice Rolls Suzhou
2 Heart’s Message 苏式小方糕 Suzhou-style Little Diamond Cakes (dim sum) Suzhou
2 Heart’s Message 蕨根糍粑 Fern Root Cake Chenzhou
2 Heart’s Message 蚝烙 Or Luak, or Oyster Omelette with Tapioca Starch, Chaozhou specialty Shantou
2 Heart’s Message 烫干丝 Dried Beancurd Threads in Consomme Yangzhou
2 Heart’s Message 扣三丝 Chicken, Mushroom, Ham Threads in Consomme Shanghai
2 Heart’s Message 油爆河虾 Flash Fried River Shrimp Shanghai
2 Heart’s Message 黄鳝啫啫煲 Eel Clay Pot Guangzhou
3 Seasons 雷笋炒肉丝 Thunder bamboo shoots fried with shredded pork
3 Seasons 笋干炖鸡 Stewed chicken with dried bamboo shoots
3 Seasons 铁锅炖鱼 Fish and tofu stewed in iron pot
3 Seasons 咸肉蒸黄泥拱竹笋 Steamed bacon with Huang-ni-gong bamboo shoots
3 Seasons 榆钱饭 Elm seeds meal
3 Seasons 九层皮 Nine-layer cake
3 Seasons 紫苏炒青蛳 Purple perilla fried with spiral shell
3 Seasons 玛仁糖/切糕 Xinjiang nut cake Xinjiang
3 Seasons 抓饭 Xinjiang hand pilaf Xinjiang
3 Seasons 虾子小刀面 Sliced Noodles with shrimp roe
3 Seasons 桂花糯米藕 Steamed lotus root stuffed with sweet sticky rice
3 Seasons 板栗烧鸡 Braised chicken with chestnuts
3 Seasons 老鸭雁来蕈 Old duck stewed with lactarius deliciosus
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