Gastronomic Traditions and Eating Habits in the Far East

One of the little known and mysterious regions of the world in the eyes of Western people is the Far East. Most have a very hazy and unclear view of this region’s culture, nations, languages, religions and cuisine. Focusing on the local gastronomy of the countries of the Far East, this article aims to clear some wide-spread myths and misconceptions regarding Asian food and Asian people and offer a clear and impartial description of the regional cuisine and culture to potential tourist and curious Westerners alike. The current paper will offer its readers concise descriptions of dishes, beverages, restaurants and elements of history and local culture of China and other countries of the Far East. Furthermore, it will point out some of the more unusual features of the local eating habits and attempt a brief comparison between Eastern and Western cuisine.

Keywords

Gastronomy, China, Japan, Far East, Cuisine, Food, Beverages

JEL Classification

I12, L66, L83, N70, N95

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