Kamil Perry
Cheese is not a staple of the Chinese diet, and it is often considered an exotic Western ingredient. However, with the growing popularity of Western fast food in China, cheese is becoming more common. Pizza, for example, is increasingly consumed by the average Chinese city dweller, and pizza chains like Pizza Hut are expanding rapidly on the mainland. This has led to a rise in demand for cheese across Asia, with China's cheese imports increasing by 70% from 2009 to 2014. While some Chinese people find the smell of cheese off-putting, others are embracing it, creating unique cheese-related dishes like cheese tea, cheese chicken chop, and cheese hot pot.
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What You'll Learn
Chinese people are increasingly eating cheese
While cheese is not a traditional part of the Chinese diet, there are some indications that Chinese people are increasingly eating it. This is partly due to the growing popularity of Western fast food, especially pizza, which has driven up demand for cheese across Asia. Pizza Hut is opening stores in mainland China at a rate of about one per day, and supermarkets in big cities are starting to put blocks of cheese on display. China's cheese imports rose by 70% from 2009 to 2014, according to market research company Mintel.
Western fast-food chains are still popular in China, and they often use cheese in their foods. For example, McDonald's uses Cheddar cheese in some of its offerings. Chinese people are also increasingly visiting Western restaurants for authentic Western foods, and many of these restaurants prefer to use Parmesan cheese, as it is easier for people to digest and has a gently salty taste and fresh smell.
Cheese is also being incorporated into Chinese cuisine in new and unique ways. Some popular cheese dishes in China include "cheese-tea", "cheese-chicken-chop", "cheese-pot", and "cheese-meat-ball". Cheese fish balls are a classic ingredient for hotpot among Chinese communities, especially in the south. In Inner Mongolia, an ethnically diverse region of China, cheese has been a part of the local diet for centuries, and it is often made from "nai doufu" ("milk tofu"), with curds cooked in a wok until they form a pliant, sticky mass.
Despite these trends, cheese is still not a favourite food in China, and it is often associated with nomadic tribes who were regarded as barbarians. Many Chinese people are lactose intolerant, and some find the smell of cheese unpleasant. However, there are indications that this is changing, especially among younger generations, as cheese becomes more accessible and integrated into the Chinese diet.
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Pizza is a popular gateway to cheese for the Chinese
Pizza Hut, which opened its first store in China in 1990, has been instrumental in this regard. The company modified its pizza recipes for the Chinese market, using less tomato sauce and cheese and including indigenous ingredients such as tuna, crab sticks, soy sauce, chicken, and corn. As of 2014, Pizza Hut had over 1,300 stores in China, with a strong presence in Shanghai. Other pizza chains have also expanded in the Chinese market, including Domino's, Papa John's, and Peppes Pizza.
The increasing popularity of pizza has contributed to the introduction of cheese as a culinary ingredient and everyday food in China, which was relatively uncommon in Chinese cuisine before the emergence of pizza chains. China's imports of cheese rose by 70% from 2009 to 2014, and the China cheese market is expected to grow further. This growth is driven by restaurants and bakeries, which account for up to 80% of the market, and by retail consumers, who buy cheese for their children as a healthy snack.
While cheese may be considered exotic in China, and many Chinese people are lactose intolerant, the success of pizza has shown that Chinese consumers can enjoy cheese and are willing to incorporate it into their diets. This is reflected in the growing number of cheese-related foods and snacks launched in the Chinese market, such as cheese tea, cheese-chicken-chop, cheese-meatball, and cheese fish balls for hot pot. As a result, pizza has played a significant role in making cheese more accessible and popular in China.
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Chinese people are largely lactose intolerant
Dairy products, including cheese, are largely exotic in China. While they have become more popular in recent times due to their association with Western lifestyles, they were historically associated with the nomadic people who lived on the fringes of China and were regarded as barbarians. As a result, many Chinese people avoided eating dairy foods altogether, and this has continued to the present day, with many still being lactose intolerant.
Lactose intolerance is influenced by both cultural and biological factors. In the case of the Chinese, the cultural factor is the historical association of dairy with nomadic tribes. The biological factor is that, like other mammals, humans stop producing lactase enzymes (needed to digest milk) after they are weaned, unless they continue to drink milk. As such, the avoidance of milk products by the Chinese in the past has contributed to the high levels of lactose intolerance in the population today.
While cheese is still generally considered to be beyond the pale in China, it is becoming more popular, especially in urban areas. This is partly due to the increasing influence of Western lifestyles and the growing appetite for American-style fast food, such as pizza. In fact, China's imports of cheese rose by 70% from 2009 to 2014, according to market research company Mintel.
Despite the increasing popularity of cheese in China, it is still mostly produced in small factories or imported from other countries, making it relatively expensive. As a result, cheese is often considered a luxury item, and many Chinese people may only encounter it in Western restaurants or fast-food chains. However, some Chinese people have found unique ways to cook with cheese, creating dishes such as "cheese-tea", "cheese-chicken-chop", "cheese-pot", and "cheese-meat-ball".
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Chinese people prefer processed cheese
Cheese is not a traditional part of the Chinese diet. Historically, dairy products were associated with the nomadic people who lived on the fringes of China and were regarded as barbarians. As a result, the Han Chinese avoided eating dairy foods, and many are lactose intolerant.
However, in recent years, Chinese eating habits have been influenced by the West, and dairy products have become more popular. Demand for milk has soared as Chinese parents have begun feeding it to their children. Cheese has also become more common, although it is still generally considered exotic. Pizza, for example, has become very popular in China, and as it contains cheese, this has driven up demand for the product.
While many Chinese people still find the smell of cheese unpleasant, and some foreigners believe that cheese is unpopular in China, it is clear that cheese consumption is on the rise. In fact, China's imports of cheese rose by 70% from 2009 to 2014. This is partly due to the growing appetite for American-style fast food, with many popular Western fast-food chains like McDonald's using cheese in their products.
Despite the increasing popularity of cheese, Chinese people generally prefer processed cheese to natural, artisanal cheese. This is because processed cheese is made by melting and mixing different natural cheeses with oil and food additives, resulting in a product that is easier to digest and has a milder taste and smell. This preference for processed cheese may be due to the fact that many Chinese people are lactose intolerant and find natural cheese too strong in flavor and scent.
There are also some regional variations in cheese consumption within China. For example, in Yunnan, a province that borders Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and the Tibetan Autonomous Region, there are a few different types of cheese, such as ru shan and ru bing. Ru shan can be served grilled or deep-fried, while ru bing is made from goat milk and has a firm texture similar to Indian paneer. In Inner Mongolia, cheese was traditionally made by families as part of their daily food preparation, but now it is increasingly made in small factories, with some cheeses based on traditional foods and others using a base called nai doufu ("milk tofu").
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Yunnan is home to a few different types of Chinese cheese
While cheese is not a common ingredient in Chinese cuisine, it does exist in China, especially in the more ethnically diverse regions such as Yunnan. In fact, Yunnan is home to a few different types of Chinese cheese.
The presence of cheese in Yunnan can be attributed to the influence of various ethnic groups in the region, such as the Mongolians, Tibetans, and the Bai people. These groups have a long history of dairy production and consumption, which has been incorporated into Yunnan's cuisine.
One of the most well-known types of cheese from Yunnan is Rushan (or Ru Shan), which is made from cow's milk. The Bai people, who primarily reside in the area around Lake Erhai, are the traditional producers of this variety. Rushan is made by pulling and stretching freshly made cow's milk curds into thin sheets, wrapping them around long bamboo sticks, and drying them until they turn yellow and leathery. It can be served grilled or deep-fried, and is often paired with sweet condiments such as rose petal jam, chocolate syrup, or fruit preserves.
Another variety of cheese from Yunnan is Ru Bing (or Rubing), which is made from goat's milk. It is produced in the central region of Yunnan, primarily by the Yi minority group. Ru Bing has a firm texture similar to Indian paneer, although some variations can be crumbly. It is commonly served layered with local ham and steamed, or stir-fried with vegetables like fava beans.
In the northern region of Yunnan, bordering the Tibetan Autonomous Region, a yak milk cheese called Thi (or Nai Zha in Mandarin) is produced. This cheese has a yellow, buttery rind and is often hung above a stove to absorb the cooking smoke during the aging process, resulting in a firm and smooth texture. Thi is typically eaten on its own or with tea and tsampa, a roasted barley flour that is a staple food for Tibetans. It is also used as a filling for steamed buns or melted with butter and served with flatbread.
While cheese may not be a dominant feature of Chinese cuisine in all regions, Yunnan certainly offers a diverse range of cheeses influenced by the cultural and ethnic diversity of the area.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese is not a traditional part of the Chinese diet, and many Chinese people are lactose intolerant. However, with the recent popularity of Western fast food in China, cheese is becoming more common.
Processed cheese is the most popular type of cheese in China. Mozzarella is also widely enjoyed, especially on pizza.
In Yunnan, a province in China, there are two types of cheese: ru shan and ru bing. In Inner Mongolia, cheese is made from nai doufu ("milk tofu").
Cheese tea is a popular drink in China, made from tea topped with a thick layer of cream cheese and milk. Cheese fish balls are also a classic ingredient for hot pot.
