Who Invented Hotpot? Introduction
Hot pot is a dish that originated in China. It's made with a base broth and ingredients like meat, vegetables, and seafood, as well as various spices.
There are many variations of hot pot dishes across China, but the most popular one is called "Chinese Hot Pot". It's also sometimes referred to as "shabu-shabu" or "sukiyaki", which are Japanese dishes that share some similarities with hot pot.
In this blog post, you'll learn about the history of hot pot: where it came from, how it's typically eaten, and what makes it so popular!
History of Hot Pot
The history of hot pot is shrouded in mystery, but there are many theories to what the origins of this dish might be.
One popular theory is that Chinese hot pot originated from a Mongolian dish known as "Khuushuur". It's thought that this dish moved west and became Chinese hot pot when it came into contact with the Han people in Central China.
It's also thought that "Khuushuur" was introduced to China during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), though there is no concrete evidence for this claim.
A more recent theory suggests that Hot Pot originates from a family of Shanghainese dishes called Tangpazhi. This theory stems from a popular food book published in 1912 by Lin Yutang. The book, titled "Dinner with Friends", included a recipe for Tangpazhi soup which shares similarities with modern-day Hot Pot dishes - notably, adding spices such as ginger and shallot to boiling water before cooking the ingredients inside.
Others argue that Hot Pot actually originated in Taiwan, where it's now a traditional dish during winter months.
Regardless of its true origins, one thing is clear: Hot Pot is delicious! And its popularity continues to grow in China today!
Conclusions
It’s clear that hot pot is a dish that has been with us for centuries, and one that will be with us for centuries more. But what’s less clear is who invented hot pot. The story goes that the Mongols introduced the dish to China, but it’s unclear whether they found it or invented it. What is clear is that the dish has been popular in China for over two millennia. And no matter who invented it, it’s clear that hot pot is an essential part of Chinese cuisine.