Portugal Golden Visa Learn about Portuguese cuisine: As the saying goes, "The seven daily necessities are firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea." Every one of them is related to food. For the Chinese, eating has long ceased to be a simple matter of satisfying hunger. After thousands of years of development and accumulation, eating in China has evolved into a profound culinary culture and an indelible national imprint. In Portugal, a European gem on the Mediterranean coast, culinary culture is equally prevalent. Authentic and exquisite ingredients, meticulously crafted by the locals and paired with traditional Portuguese cooking methods, become delicious delicacies on the dining table. Comparing the culinary cultures of China and Portugal, there is much to explore—believe it or not, let's take a look!
First, let's take a look at China's vast array of delicacies. With the APEC leaders' meeting currently being held in Beijing, Chinese cuisine naturally could not be absent from welcoming this important international conference. It is understood that various dishes with distinct Chinese characteristics, such as jianbing, roast duck, dumplings, sliced noodles, Yangzhou fried rice, and Kung Pao chicken, shone brightly at this grand event and received unanimous praise from leaders of various countries.
As the saying goes, "Food is the first necessity of the people." In fact, not only China, but many countries on Earth possess long-standing culinary cultures. Among them, the one most loved by the Chinese is Portugal, one of the world's culinary kingdoms. Located on the southern coast of Europe, Portugal enjoys a mild climate year-round, excellent natural conditions, and abundant seafood, thanks to the "favor" of warm ocean currents. This heaven-sent gift has nurtured the simple and enthusiastic character of the Portuguese people and bestowed upon them many unique culinary ingredients.
Limited by factors such as the long distance between the two countries, many Chinese people's impression of Portuguese cuisine is limited to the Portuguese egg tart. Although the Portuguese egg tart is indeed a famous Portuguese dessert, it is merely a drop in the ocean compared to the profound depth of Portuguese cuisine. Like the Chinese, the Portuguese not only love to eat and know how to eat, but they also pay attention to healthy eating. The most famous is the Portuguese national dish, cod. This precious ingredient, hailed as "liquid gold," is said to have 365 ways of preparation, allowing one to eat a different dish every day of the year. In addition to cod, Portugal also possesses excellent fish species unique to Nordic countries, such as swordfish, lamprey, and starry flounder.
For those who cannot live without meat, another delicacy on the tip of the tongue in Portugal is Portuguese ham. Portuguese ham has a salty, fragrant, and refreshing taste, making it one of the most precious types of ham in Europe. In Portugal, the best ham is made from black pigs raised on family farms. Although Portugal is an industrialized country, it values the natural taste of agricultural products, believing that this is the only way to achieve an authentic Portuguese flavor. Furthermore, the meat of the black pigs used for ham can also be used to make Portuguese roast suckling pig.
In addition to fresh fish and meat, the Portuguese, who pay attention to the nutritional balance of meat and vegetables, rely on traditional farm management to consume fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables year-round. Common vegetables such as garlic, herbs, tomatoes, corn, and potatoes are dishes they use to pair with meat. In this regard, the similarity to local Chinese cuisine is extremely high, which is why it is most easily accepted by the Chinese.
As a world-famous wine producer and exporter, wine is naturally another national treasure and specialty of Portugal. Among wine categories, Port wine and Madeira wine are the most famous. Both belong to fortified wines and can be used as aperitifs or after-dinner drinks, as well as for cooking. As for the Porto wine that has left a deep impression on many Chinese people, one must go deep into the local area to taste the authentic Portuguese flavor.
In recent years, Portuguese investment immigration has risen rapidly, becoming one of the most favored immigration destinations for the Chinese. According to the latest official data released by the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service: as of September 30, 2014, a total of 1,564 investors had successfully obtained residence cards through the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit program, of which 1,249 were Chinese investors, accounting for 80% of the total. WorldWay believes that while this is certainly due to Portugal's relaxed immigration policy and high return rate, the fact that Portuguese cuisine is close to Chinese dietary habits and more suitable for Chinese living is also an important factor.
