Qing Dynasty Imperial Kitchen Delights 1 of 2
2016/6/9
▲ Qing Dynasty Emperor Guangxu 光緒 and The Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧
The Chinese Palace cuisines were meals which were prepared by Imperial Kitchen of the royal family. They were called imperial meals. From Ming Dynasty onward, Palace cuisines were arranged systematically.
"Imperial Kitchen" was also called "Internal Kitchen". This was the kitchen that prepared meals for the Emperor. "Ministry of Internal Affairs" would give the menu for the second day one day in advance to the Emperor to read. This menu was called "meal stall" which was kept by the "Imperial Tea and Meal Kitchen" ."Customs and defense management Internal Affairs Office" gathered all ingredients and delivered them to "Imperial Kitchen" for the "Imperial Chefs" to prepare. These "Imperial chefs" can individually cook 2 or 3 dishes only. However, the imperial chef of Emperor Qianlong 乾隆Cheung Dong Guan 張東官could prepare unexpected meals that pleased the emperor. This is only a rare legion.
Among Qing Imperial Meals, Qianlong Meals was the most representative.
Owing to accumulation of materials by Kangxi 康熙 and Yongzheng 雍正, system was improving. Until Qianlong period, organization and management system of imperial meals became perfect.
"Imperial Kitchen" was actually the abbreviated name of "Imperial Tea and Meal Kitchen" in Qing Dynasty.
"Imperial Tea and Meal Kitchen" included Imperial Tea Kitchen, Imperial Meal Kitchen, and its affiliated organizations.
Different organizations had different works. "Imperial Tea and Meal Kitchen" was responsible for daily meals and season celebrations of the Emperor.
According to records in ancient books, Imperial Meal Kitchen specialized in gourmet. selection from palace and offerings from everywhere; festive banquet, sitting with the attendant. Imperial Tea Kitchen was responsible for drinks, fruits and offerings from everywhere and sitting with the attendant.
Until Qianlong 乾隆 period, names and setup of organizations under Imperial Tea and Meal Kitchen underwent changes. It consisted of Imperial Meal Kitchen, Tea Kitchen, Meal warehouse and subsidiaries.
"Imperial Kitchen Desserts" were dim sums prepared by Imperial Kitchen. Skillful chefs were hired to prepare meals for the Emperor. Although the imperial dim sums looked complicated, the ingredients were not obtained like delicacies from mountains and seas.
That time, common people were poor and materials were in shortage, they could not obtain the relatively expensive ingredients.
Qianlong loved Jiangnan cuisine, whereas, Cixi loved sweet dim sums.
Among so many dim sums, Cixi loved the most are 12 types: Pea Yellow, Kidney Bean Rolls, Golden Cake, Chestnut Corn Bread, Dream Realized Cake, Doornail Meat Cake, Rice Rolls, Deep Fried Cake, 8 Treasure Cake, Deep Fried Triangle, Donkey Rolling, Rose Pastry. This episode has 2 parts, each part has 6 types, allowing everyone digest slowly.
Imperial Kitchen Desserts 1: Pea Yellow
Most likely many people heard of Pea Yellow and knew that it was the most delightful dim sums of the Empress Dowager Cixi. Actually, Pea Yellow was a sweet cold cake which was solidified without the need to put it in the fridge. It was like jelly which is a summer delights nowadays. Traditionally, peas were grounded to powder, and mixed with Agar Agar to solidify with soft texture. The simple Pea Yellow use mashed peas and Gelatin to solidify. However, the texture became smooth.
Imperial Kitchen Desserts 2: Kidney Bean Rolls
According to legend, the Empress Dowager Cixi overheard a hawker selling foods outside the palace. The food was brought into the palace for her to try. She felt it was very tasty. She ordered the Imperial Kitchen to make it. Hence, Kidney Bean Rolls became one of Cixi's Imperial Kitchen Desserts. Kidney Bean Rolls used mashed kidney beans for dough, wrapped with different fillings like sesame and red beans; then, were cut into logs. Kidney Bean Rolls were white, soft and smooth; fillings were fragrant, sweet and smooth.
Imperial Kitchen Desserts 3: Golden Cake
Golden Cake was also called Capital Cake, original name was Hawthorn Cake. It was a cake of the Han people. Its main ingredient was dried Hawthorn fruit, mixed with sugar and Osmanthus Fragrans to form a steamed cake. It could be served with sugar or slices of pears. It was sweet, sour, soft and smooth, very yummy. It melted in the mouth.
According to legend, one day Cixi wanted to eat Hawthorn cake. The people of the palace found the best and well known Hawthorn cake maker Chang cashier rushed to make this cake overnight. Due to selection of the best ingredients and skillful technique, the Hawthorn cake produced was red with golden colour. Cixi loved it so much because of the smoothness and softness, delicious taste of sweet and sour; especially the golden colour for the royal family. Hence, she named it under her command "Golden Cake" .
Imperial Kitchen Desserts 4: Chestnut Corn Bread
Chestnut Corn Bread was a staple for common people. It was prepared by mixing corn flour, chopped corn leaves and corn cob; and steam. The cake body was relatively rough. Fillings were mainly mashed chestnut, paired with mashed red beans and purple yam.
Corn Bread was related to Cixi. She ate it while she was fasting.
According to legend, in 1900, eight countries united army attacked Beijing, Cixi hurriedly escaped to Xi An. In middle of the journey, Cixi felt hungry. Her servant found a big corn bread for her. She swallow it in a few bites and said it was so delicious. When she returned to Beijing from Xi An, she recalled the corn bread. The Imperial Kitchen chef sieved the corn flour and added sugar to make the size of a chestnut.
Imperial Kitchen Desserts 5: Dream Realized Cake
Fillings consisted of beef cubes, water chestnut, peas, carrots, cilantro, green onion, shallots, onions.
"Dream Realized Cake" sounds beautiful. According to legend, the Empress Dowager Cixi had a dream one night. In her dream, she ate a sandwiched bread with meat fillings. Very yummy. She did not mention her dream to anyone. By coincidence, she ate this cake at dinner. Cixi was happy because this cake made her dream come true. Therefore, it was passed down by calling it "Dream Realized Cake". It symbolized dream come true. It also blessed those who ate it healthy and long life, promotion to higher rank and wealth. "Dream Realized Cake" is the predecessor of hamburger. But the latter was not crispy, soft and smooth, and bigger in size, not so refined.
Imperial Kitchen Desserts 6: Doornail Meat Cake
Doornail Meat Cake was traditional Islamic dessert of old Beijing. Its shape looked like doornail of city gate in ancient time. According to legend, the Imperial Kitchen prepared a dim sum with fillings for Cixi. She was delighted with the dim sum. She asked the name of this dim sum. The imperial chef suddenly recalled the doornail of the Palace door and answered to Cixi "Doornail Meat Cake".
Doornails of Imperial Palace, The Forbidden City
Next, Qing Dynasty Imperial Kitchen Delights 2 of 2
Publisher： Chef Kar Delight
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