Savoring Suzhou style

The following are some popular flavors from Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish

Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish is a dish that visitors should not miss. With meat cut into spikes, the fish is finished with shrimp, dried bamboo shoots and a sweet-and-sour sauce that are loved by many.

The mandarin fish is known for its tenderness of the flesh and sparseness of the bones. After scaling and frying, to some degree its flesh resembles the hair of a squirrel.

The Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish is one of the must-have when tourists visit Suzhou and neighboring areas such as Hangzhou and Wuxi.

Noodle Fish

Whitebait, also called noodle fish, has white flesh and sparse bones. It has been listed as one of the main national protected aquatic resources. The whitebait, about 10cm long, can be cooked in many ways. One of the most common ways is to fry it with eggs. Another method is to make it into soup. It is often seasoned with ham, bamboo slices and green vegetable leaves.

Taihu Boat Dishes

The history of Taihu Boat Dishes can be traced to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Rich officials and merchants 1,000 years ago held banquets on boats to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Since 1994, Boat Dishes have become a well-established tradition in Suzhou's Guangfu town on the eastern bank of Taihu Lake. But the number of the boat restaurants, which usually are located along the riverside, is decreasing due to the local government's environmental protection plans.

Biluochun Tea

Biluochun Tea, widely known for its unbelievable aroma, is one of the most famous teas in China. Only the tender tip of the leaf is picked from Biluo Mountain near Taihu Lake.

Though expensive, the tea is said to have the best quality and is very healthy. Visitors can buy the green tea at many of the teahouses in the city.

- China Daily