Bites of Chinese cuisine land in Brazil

The first exhibition that the National Museum of China has ever brought to Brazil speaks to an old Chinese saying: Food is the paramount necessity of the people.

The National Museum of China curated and previously showed at its venue along Chang'an Avenue The Flavors of Tradition — History of Food in Ancient China, which is currently on its international tour. The acclaimed exhibition showcases artifacts that trace the development of culinary vessels and culture over millennia.

It is now being held at the National Historical Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, with a display of over 100 exquisite works of craftsmanship and art, showing how ancient Chinese people selected and paired ingredients for physical and mental well-being, diversified and well-developed cooking techniques and aesthetics embodied in tableware. Not only do they reflect dining etiquette and folk customs, but they also convey philosophical insights derived from everyday dining, such as seeking harmony in flavors to achieve balance between a man's body and the natural surroundings through culinary practices.

The exhibition runs through Oct 11 in celebration of the China-Brazil Year of Culture.