Asian Food Trends and The Culture Behind Them
Written by Reyna Pablo, Grace Anne Dela Cruz, & Edited by Bianca Kamath
Due to the rise of Asian representation in mainstream media, Asian food has been gaining more traction. People, with their natural instinct to imitate, have started eating ramen, sushi, kimchi, and drinking boba; just like their favorite television show or movie characters. Asian food has become more popular in all communities thanks to the media. So here are some dishes that have been currently trending recently, along with the rich history behind them.
Sushi, a Japanese dish consisting of cold vinegar-flavored steamed rice garnished with raw fish and vegetables, is a food that is commonly portrayed in older media as something that only an upper-class person would eat, but sushi can be as common as ramen. Most people know of Makizushi, also known as rolled sushi, or Nigirizushi, which is hand-pressed rice topped with various ingredients such as fish, tofu, vegetables, or an omelet. There are other types of sushi, such as Chirashizushi (also known as scattered sushi), which is a bowl of rice topped with various ingredients. Inarizushi is the simplest form of sushi, which does not include any fish and is more on the sweeter side. It is a pouch of deep-fried tofu simmered in a marinade of mirin, soy sauce, dashi, and sugar. Narezushi (matured sushi) involves fermentation of the fish, then later discarding the rice before eating. The last is Oshizushi (pressed sushi), also known as boxed sushi, which is made by layering toppings and then cutting the sushi into rectangles, triangles, or small squares.
Another food that has been gaining notoriety, is kimchi, which is salt fermented vegetables that are heavily seasoned with chili powder, ginger, and garlic, etc Kimchi is a Korean staple, and a more traditional recipe consists of pickled vegetables and it usually appears as one of many side dishes, and on some occasions, its served as a main dish. Initially, it would be stored in-ground to prevent freezing in the winter and to slow down the fermentation process in the summer.
Pho (Vietnamese rice noodles), is known for the heartwarming feeling it gives when eaten. This dish originated in the 20th century and was especially popular after the Vietnam War and once again during the 90s. It mostly spread on the coasts of the U.S. such as the Gulf and West Coasts. Restaurants quickly popped up in states such as Texas and California. Now, Pho restaurants can be found all across the country and can be the perfect place to eat on a rainy day, and are usually served thinly sliced meat with broth and various herbs.
Another popular drink is Boba. Its popularity is undeniable, with The chewy tapioca pearls and the sweet drink it comes in; it is pure bliss. Surprisingly, this drink is relatively newer compared to other popular dishes as it was created in Taiwan during the 80s by Liu Han-Chieh. The gummy-like substance originally was used in shaved ice desserts and paired with syrups and beans, but during the time when milk tea was really popular, the two mixed and became the tasty treat that we know today. There are now 250 varieties of bubble tea flavors to choose from, with honeydew bubble tea being one of the most popular flavors worldwide.
Last but not least is this hidden gem from the Philippines called halo-halo. Halo-Halo (translated to mix-mix), is a delectable dessert that is perfect for summer. It consists of crushed ice, evaporated or condensed milk along with various toppings of your choice. These toppings usually include sweetened beans, coconut strips, sago, boiled taro, and fruit slices, which are then topped with a scoop of ube ice cream. The dessert originated from Japan during the pre-war era, where settlers from Japan introduced it to Filipinos. According to historians, the Japanese had sweet desserts called ‘Mitsumame’ or ‘mongo con hielo’ and ‘kakigori’ which closely resemble the Filipinos’ Halo-halo. It has then since become a treat that many crave and enjoy.
Whether you are from Asia or not, these foods and desserts can be enjoyed by everyone. Many small businesses selling these dishes, have been struck by the pandemic and are in need of support, so trying one of these foods at a local restaurant or shop would mean a lot to them. So the real question is: which one will you try first?
