Spicy and colorful Chinese Miao food

The Miao are an ethnic minority, and admiring the glistening silver jewelry the women wear from head to toe, you may think they are rich. But the Miao lead quite a tough life in secluded mountainous areas of southern and southwestern China. Even during holidays and weddings, food displayed on a table doesn't look very sumptuous. However the Miao have some unique food that you can't find anywhere else in China.

Colorful glutinous rice

Glutinous rice is the staple food of Miao culture. A unique colorful and delicious rice is prepared for guests during holidays. There are five distinct colors in the rice: blue, red, white, black, and yellow. The colors are made of many different plants, like mulberries. It looks alluring, and tastes sweet and delicious.

The single women usually give colorful glutinous rice to their lovers as a present. They may put some special things in the rice basket to imply where their relationship is going. A bamboo hook means the man should buy an umbrella for the girl as a gift. A tree branch implies they have no future. A piece of a toon sprout tells they can marry soon. A glutinous rice paste with the design of baby, dragon, and phoenix will be served for the bride and groom on their wedding day.

Oil-tea

A very common Miao beverage is “oil-tea.”Some Miao people like sipping it every day. Salt, ginger, and oil are put together with the tea leaves and then fried in a wok. Then put into some water, and boil them together. Using a mallet, the tea leaves are pounded into specks and then the concoction is boiled for a longer while. The tea is then filtered and mixed together with corn, beans, peanuts, or glutinous rice, and then some spring onions, garlic, and peppers can be added.

Now a big cup of deep and rich tea is prepared for you to enjoy.

Together with oil-tea, a chopstick is always supplied. Lay the chopstick onto your bowl if you don't need tea anymore. If you don't, tea will be served for you continually!

Sour soup

A special sour soup is served all year round. It is made of fermented rice and various kinds of steamed vegetables. With this sour soup, people can make their dishes like meat, chicken or fish a bit sour and more delicious.

Spicy flavoring

In ancient times, it was very difficult for the Miao to get salt, so they used hot peppers to add flavor to their dishes and developed a taste for very spicy food. Nowadays fried and chopped chili peppers are the principle flavoring put into Maio cuisine.

Many different ways is used to cook chili peppers. After baked or fried, they can be blended together with ginger, garlic, or wine to have distinct flavor. You can store the flavoring in a jar for quite a long time.

Chicken and duck

The Miao like chicken and duck meat, and especially chicken or duck’s heart. The innards are almost always reserved for the elderly and special guests to show respect.

Wine

Wine has a long history among the Miao. Most Miao families can make wine at home.

A wine made of glutinous rice and a unique fruit tastes a bit sweet, and helps you digest food. If you go to a Miao village, the hospitable local people may welcome you with a whole wine service. As many as twelve places from the road to their village gate are designated as the sites for this service. You will be considered a hero if you can finish all wine in the 12 bowls! But no need to be upset if you can't. Just touch the bowl with your lips gently, and politely say “Dou She Mo,” which in the Miao language means “Thank you!” then you can go.

Visit the Miao villages during their holidays, and you can enjoy their exciting singing and dancing performances, along with their fascinating embroidery and silver ornaments like the unique silver earrings. When drinking with the Miao, lots of wine will be flowing!