Food · Warming Local Dishes for Winter

Why eat warm in winter

After a day out in the ice and snow, a hot local meal both warms the body and restores energy; the right dishes make beating the cold easier.

Top choices for warmth

• Suan cai pork pot: pickled cabbage, blood sausage and pork stewed together — rich, tangy and filling, a signature northeastern winter dish.
• Iron-pot stew: fish, ribs or goose with cornmeal cakes, cooked and eaten around a hot pot — warmer by the bite.
• Hotpot and lamb soup: meat with hot broth for quick warmth; lamb soup with flatbread is also popular.

Warming street snacks

• Roast sweet potato, sugar-roasted chestnuts and hot soy milk warm your hands as you walk.
• Boiled corn, grilled sausage and oden are handy for a quick calorie boost on the move.

What to drink

Besides hot drinks, try local kvass and warm beverages; keep alcohol moderate — not on an empty stomach and not as a way to keep warm.

Note

Stomachs are sensitive to hot-cold swings, so do not overdo cold or greasy food; after eating, do not rush straight into the extreme cold — warm up indoors first.