Buzz
Hue royal cuisine is renowned not only for its cooking techniques but also for its presentation and decoration, thus creating a distinctive feature that not every place possesses.
When visiting Hue, the first thing we often do is seek out the delicacies to savor and experience the lingering essence of royal cuisine through every flavor. In essence, Hue royal cuisine is not much different from folk dishes in terms of ingredients. Currently, our country has about 3,000 dishes of various kinds, including over 1,700 dishes cooked in the style of Hue royal cuisine. Beautiful presentation, delightful flavors, elegance, sophistication, and health benefits are all encompassed in Hue royal cuisine.
The Origins of Hue Royal Cuisine
Hue royal cuisine is influenced by various cultural streams from different communities during the period of land opening and expansion. It inherits the culinary style of the North since the Ly and Le dynasties, or adopts the southern cooking methods since the reign of Emperor Gia Long. Additionally, Hue royal cuisine is enriched by its unique characteristics inherited from ancient Champa cuisine.
With the splendid development of feudal dynasties and being the residence of monarchs, Hue established meticulous standards in culinary methods. Initially, Hue royal dishes were passed down from generation to generation. After diplomatic missions, envoys presented the king with exotic and delicious dishes. Special dishes were then listed and passed on to subsequent generations, thus enriching and diversifying Hue royal cuisine.
Exquisite dishes with enchanting flavors
Familiar cakes within the former Hue court
As the feudal dynasties declined, royal cuisine began to spread and flourish based on folk culinary traditions. The people of Hue skillfully prepare dishes with enticing colors and captivating presentations, showcasing clear distinctions. Each dish embodies the profound philosophical and existential views of the people in the ancient capital region. Particularly, harmony in spices and ingredients is emphasized to ensure that the dishes are not only delicious but also beneficial to health.
Characteristics of Hue Royal Cuisine
When preparing royal dishes, royal chefs often season the food three times throughout the cooking process to ensure a balanced and fresh flavor while retaining the natural freshness of the ingredients. In addition to seasoning the ingredients, chefs need to add seasoning while the food is boiling. After turning off the stove, seasoning should be added again, and finally, when serving the food, seasoning should be added once more. Dishes presented to the kings must guarantee excellent taste and visually appealing aesthetics.
Dishes not only taste delicious but are also beautifully decorated
Every meal in the Hue court adheres to strict rules and principles, from ingredient selection to preparation, to table decoration, and arrangement of dishes. For instance, a meal for Kings Minh Mang, Dong Khanh, and Khai Dinh must consist of 35 to 50 dishes, including several royal dishes. Among the most precious are the 'Eight Royal Dishes,' which include royal nem, phoenix sausage, buffalo skin, bear paw, deer tendon, pangolin lips, elephant foot meat, and swallow's nest. These dishes must be delicately presented in lacquered boxes adorned with gold leaf.
The sophistication reflects the culinary mastery of the royal chefs.
The cuisine of the Hue court is incredibly diverse and richly displayed in each banquet with its unique characteristics. Hence, the number of dishes in each type of banquet varies significantly. For example, a grand banquet may have 161 dishes, a ceremonial banquet 50 dishes, a refined banquet 30 dishes, and a vegetarian banquet categorized into first and second classes, each with a varying number of dishes.
The ingredients used in cooking are always of the highest quality.
If you ever have the chance to visit the enchanting land of Hue, be sure to experience the renowned royal cuisine from all three regions. It's not just a treat for the taste buds; all your senses will be awakened and harmonized by those special flavors. As a part of Vietnamese cuisine, royal cuisine is truly a cultural treasure that needs to be preserved and passed down.
-- Ms. Serenity --
