The Gaoshan ethnic minority is the general term for the ethnic groups inChina'sTaiwanProvince. The Gaoshan people come from a variety of sources, but most of them are a branch of the ancient Viets along the southeast coast of the Chinese mainland. Most of the Gaoshans are engaged in agriculture, and a few of them in fishery and hunting.
The Gaoshan dietetic customs have unique features, which constitute an important part of the Gaoshan culture. The Gaoshans mainly live on grains and yams, supplemented by collection, fishery, hunting, as well as livestock, eggs, meat and vegetables. They usually do not drink boiled water or tea, but are fond of tobacco and wine.
The most important food includes millet paddy and maize, and sometimes broomcorn millet and beans. The Yamei people have yams as their staple food, and sometimes eat rice and wheaten food. The variety of vegetables is increasing, including bamboo shoots, pumpkin, leek, radish, eggplant and cabbage, etc.
The Gaoshans usually add millet and paddy into rice and porridge, steam glutinous rice and maize into cakes. The Paiwan people like to mix peanuts and meat with glutinous millet and roll them in a leaf to steam, while the Yamei people boil rice, porridge and yams or sweet potatoes.
The ways of preservation mainly include salting, drying and grilling.
The Gaoshans, both male and female, are fond of wine, and drink a lot.
The Gaoshan people, male and female, young and old, chew betelnuts. This custom is especially popular among the Gaoshans in the southern area. Betelnuts are not only their favorite and necessary food in daily life, but also the major sacrifice to ancestors.
Smoking is also a common habit of the Gaoshans. Cigarettes are rolled with self-grown tobacco leaves.
Email to Friends
Print
Save