Name: 'CHINA: SNAKE MEAT DISHES'
Uploaded: 2023-09-14T02:36:17+00:00
Duration: T3M8S
Description: 'CHINA: SNAKE MEAT DISHES' on MainStreamvVlog

03:08 Sep 14, 2023 2 3

'(20 Jan 2001) Mandarin/Nat The Chinese are proud of their food and the amazing variety of meat and vegetable dishes on offer. On the eve of China\'s lunar new year many people in Beijing gather to celebrate in their favourite restaurants. And what better way to bring in the Year of the Snake than with a three course snake dinner washed down with a cup of the reptile\'s blood ? In Dai Jia Cun restaurant, if your taste buds are tired of pork, mutton or beef, you can try something different. Snake meat is the speciality of the house in this eatery, which offers the unique cuisine of the Dai minority. Because China protects endangered spices of snake, the unlucky green grass variety most often comes under the knife and appears on the table. You don\'t have to worry whether your snake meat is fresh. You can see the animal killed right before your eyes. In China, eating snake is common among people living in the south, but not in Beijing and further north, where tastes for the lowly reptile are driven by curiosity and the challenge of eating something a little strange. A snake dinner may not be for the squeamish, but the public preparation ritual has been great for business. At Dai Jia Cun, one snake can be served in five ways -- snake blood wine, snake gallbladder wine, fried sliced snake meat, deep fried snake skin and snake bone soup. Nearly every part of the snake is consumed. While waiting for the meat, skin and soup dishes to arrive, you can take a sip of potent wine mixed with snake blood or gallbladder. Among other benefits, the drink is said to enhance sexual performance. Like most tonics which promise improved health the taste is not pleasant. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin): \"Very bitter, it tastes bitter, Er Guo Tou (a cheap but powerful Chinese sorghum wine) is much better than this.\" SUPERCAPTION: Vox-pop, Mr.Guo, from Beijing If Beijing is a culinary battleground competing for the appetites of it\'s estimated 13 (m) million inhabitants, then this restaurant offers courageous eaters a true taste of blood. Satisfaction can also be found in the snake\'s rumoured ability improve one\'s health. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) \"Snake meat has the diuretic effect and helps people get rid of humidity in the body. It is very good for health. Traditionally, Chinese consider food and medicine are from the same source and have the same function.\" SUPER CAPTION: Bai Youlin, Manager of Dai Jia Cun Restaurant Opened in 1998, Dai Jia Cun restaurant was instantly popular with local diners as well as tourists. The secret of its success can be found in a clean, busy kitchen where nearly half of the 100 staff can be seen preparing food. How do you transform a slithering snake into a tasty meal? Special cooking techniques are needed. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) \"First we have to cut off the snake tendons or the meat will taste very bad and be difficult to chew. When we cook it, we use meat tenderizing powder and control the temperature of the oil. By doing so, the dish can be tender and delicious.\" SUPER CAPTION: Xie Shujian, cook One snake eaten five ways costs about 12 U-S dollars, a price affordable for most of the local people. About 50 snakes are served each day. Many Chinese believe eating snake will bring bad luck for those born in the Year of Snake, or if people eat snake in the Year of Snake. Others don\'t seem to care. Women as well as men can be found nibbling on snake. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) SUPERCAPTION: Vox-pops, Mrs.Gu, born in Year of Snake Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5c4ef3f4af23fe1b4298a60eb67aee6d'

Tags: Lifestyle , China , Beijing , AP Archive , East Asia , Greater China , 206959 , 5c4ef3f4af23fe1b4298a60eb67aee6d , CHINA SNAKE MEAT DISHES

'CHINA: SNAKE MEAT DISHES'

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