Why Food Is A Highlight of Any Group Tour to Xinjiang?

As a popular travel destination for China group tours, Xinjiang is famous for its natural landscapes, diverse cuisine, and wonderful ethnic cultures. Xinjiang food is featured by its fresh ingredients, diverse varieties, and culinary culture. In Xinjiang, you can try delicious food while learning about the local culture and experiencing the local life.

Abundant Ingredients

The main ingredients in Xinjiang include lamb, beef, wheat, and fruits. The geographical benefits and unique thermal conditions of Xinjiang guarantee the ingredients’ freshness and palatable qualities.

Wheat

Located in the heart of the Eurasian continent, Xinjiang features a typical temperate continental climate. The environment of Xinjiang characterized by ample sunshine, notable temperature shifts, and limited precipitation fosters wheat growth optimally. During the day, elevated temperatures facilitate wheat growth and metabolic processes, while at night, low temperatures diminishes nutrient utilization.

Xinjiang’s soil heterogeneity supports high wheat yields. In Xinjiang, people have accumulated extensive knowledge in wheat cultivation and developed various high-quality wheat varieties.

Mutton and Beef

Xinjiang's mountainous terrain, grasslands, and deserts confer exceptional natural resources upon its livestock sector. Xinjiang possesses 720 million mu of usable grassland, accounting for 23% of China's total usable natural grassland area. These conditions provide the inherent foundation for Xinjiang's land to support such a large number of cattle and sheep. 

The primary sheep breeds raised in Xinjiang include Kazakh sheep and Mongolian sheep. These sheep are renowned for their excellent meat quality and flavor. The Xinjiang brown cattle is the most renowned beef cattle breed, with a breeding history spanning nearly a century. 

Fruit

Xinjiang fruits enjoy a high reputation in the world. Xinjiang enjoys long hours of sunshine and frequent clear days. Under abundant sunlight, plants can fully carry out photosynthesis. Moreover, the significant temperature difference between day and night in Xinjiang allows sugars to fully accumulate in the fruit.

The grape is the most representative fruit of Xinjiang. Turpan grapes exhibit an exceptional sugar content. Korla pears are characterized by their sweet flavor and rich nutritional value. Hami melon is also very famous fruit in Xinjiang. Xinjiang's Hami melons are primarily produced in Hami, with a cultivation history spanning over 2,000 years.

Diverse Cuisine

During Xinjiang tours, diverse regional delicacies await culinary exploration. 

Lamb Kebabs

Lamb kebab is one of the snacks in Xinjiang cuisine, made from fresh lamb. The chef initially divides the lamb into cubes measuring 2 to 3 centimeters. Then add chili powder, cumin powder, salt, and other seasonings into the meat for marination, thereby enriching its flavor.

The mutton is skewered onto metal skewers or tamarisk branches. Place the skewered lamb over charcoal heat to grill. Continuously rotate the skewers to ensure each side is cooked through. In Xinjiang, chefs select special spices to enhance the flavor of lamb, such as cumin, chili peppers, and onions.

Hand Pilaf

Hand Pilaf is one of the traditional staple foods of the Xinjiang people. The dish is predominantly crafted from rice, incorporating lamb, carrots, onions, and additional components. Lamb should choose cuts with a certain amount of fat and lean meat, so that the meat is tender and juicy when cooked. Carrots and onions should be julienned into strips. The seasonings for Xinjiang pilaf should not be too rich or varied, so as not to cover up the freshness of the ingredients.

Traditional dining protocols require guests to assemble at the table and eat directly from the dishes with their hands. Contemporary family meal settings predominantly employ spoons and chopsticks. The selection of dining implements is contingent upon individual preference.

Roasted Whole Lamb

The roast whole lamb is an essential dish during Xinjiang's major celebrations. The preparation and ingredient selection for this delicacy are performed with exceptional meticulousness. 

The specified lamb for this dish must originate from Altay rams or lambs that are less than one year old. The chef prepares the lamb by marinating it with a selection of over ten spices. Later the lamb is suspended above the tandoor oven and roasted for roughly one hour. The roasted whole lamb is distinguished by its crispy skin and tender and juicy meat texture. You can enjoy it with salt, cumin powder, and chili powder.

Latiaozi

Within Xinjiang's culinary repertoire, Latiaozi stands out as a distinctive noodle dish. Latiaozi noodles are crafted through manual dough stretching. Noodles generally possess a thickness akin to chopsticks. One common way to enjoy them is by mixing them. This involves pouring stir-fried vegetables over the cooked noodles, mixing everything together before eating.

The classification of Xinjiang's Latiaozi encompasses a multitude of varieties, contingent upon accompanying side dishes. Standard side dishes commonly feature fresh components like lamb, beef, tomatoes, onions, and peppers.

Baked Buns

Baked buns, a traditional delicacy, exemplify the convergence of diverse culinary methods. During preparation, the dough is rolled into thin wrappers to encase a filling of lamb, onions, and cumin. The buns are meticulously pressed onto the interior walls of a tandoor oven, subsequently baked to attain a golden-brown crust. 

In Xinjiang, there are many ways to enjoy roasted buns. Pair them with a cup of savory brick tea. The taste of the tea helps cut through the richness of the baked buns, creating a more balanced and satisfying flavor experience. 

Food Markets

Xinjiang is home to different food markets. You can stroll on these streets to taste local delicacies and soak in the lively local live.

Grand Bazaar Pedestrian Street

Located in Urumqi, the Grand Bazaar Pedestrian Street is one of the liveliest places in Xinjiang. This area is divided into three distinct zones. You can explore the cultural and creative district, the local cultural brand district, and the Xinjiang specialty cuisine district. Here find exquisite handicrafts, such as traditional clothing, musical instruments and blankets.

What's more, the area offers over 100 sorts of specialty snacks. Also observe fresh fruits, delicious dried fruits, and a variety of Xinjiang dairy products at the fruit market. You can explore diverse cuisines here during your China Silk Road tours.

Khan Bazaar Night Market

Khan Bazaar Night Market is located in Kashgar City. It currently houses 143 shops offering a wide variety of Xinjiang cuisine. Wander through the streets to taste local delicacies like whole roasted lamb and baked buns. Also talk with locals to learn about their food culture and daily life. 

Distinctive Food Culture

Culinary culture is also an important part of Xinjiang culture. Before meals, locals lay a colorful printed cloth over the blanket. Everyone washes their hands before meals and then dries them with a dry towel. At the dining table, the eldest family member occupies the seat of honor. The entire family gathers around to share a meal together. 

When hosting guests, the host typically first serves foods such as naan, sweets, and raisins, followed by main dishes like lamb or hand pilaf. During meals, Xinjiang people observe many customs. For instance, it is considered taboo to step on the tablecloth or step over it. Guests should not casually poke at the food on the plate. 

During your Xinjiang tours, the local cuisine will allow you to enjoy a variety of flavors. You can also learn about Xinjiang's dietary customs and taboos to enhance your travel experience.

Related Articles:

• Football Stadium Foods: A Culinary World Tour
• Osaka’s Street Food Scene: A Culinary Tour Through Dotonbori and Beyond