The Humble Hot Pot in All Its Different Flavors and Designs

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If you want to set one food goal for the whole family this summer that you can achieve without ever leaving Beijing, it could be to experience all the different types of hot pot that China has to offer.

I know, summer is already hot enough as it is, so the thought of sitting in front of a steaming pot of boiling broth sounds like the exact opposite of what you want to do. But contrary to what most people assume, hot pot is an all-year-round kind of food. In places like Sichuan the consumption of hot pot actually increases during the hotter months as locals believe that a healthy sweat during the hot weather helps them expel toxins.

So how many types of hot pot are there in Beijing and what are the differences between them? The types of pots used for cooking, the ingredients, and sauces all change depending on the region so this summer, step away from trusty old Haidilao and try some other authentic flavors from around the country.

Beijing Hot Pot 北京火锅

Classic Beijing hot pot is cooked on a copper Mongolian pot heated with actual coals. According to legend, it was brought to Beijing over 800 years ago by Mongolian soldiers who would boil thin slices of meat in their helmets for dinner. The Beijing hot pot broth is both very simple, and probably the healthiest around: consisting only of a few slices of ginger, scallions, and some dates with no oils or spicy sauces. Beijing style hot pot is usually served with a simple sesame sauce along with some optional condiments like scallions and cilantro.

Tibetan Style Hot Pot 藏式火锅

Very similar to the Beijing-style hot pot, Tibetan-style hot pot stands apart thanks to its use of yak bone to create the broth. The cuts of meat used for Tibetan style hot pot are also usually thicker than those used in other hot pot styles, making this one a rare but lucky find for meat lovers.

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Chongqing Hot Pot 重庆火锅

From the simplest of hot pot flavors to the most intense, Chongqing-style hot pot is famous throughout China as the spiciest of them all. Indeed, the city of Chongqing in Sichuan Province is known as China’s hot pot capital as approximately five out of six restaurants are dedicated to the dish. What makes Chongqing hot pot so unique is the numbing hot spiciness known as mala (쮸윤) literally ‘numbing spicy’. The broth uses a lot of chili oils and the surface will usually be covered with a thick layer of chili peppers and mala peppercorns. It’s said that Chongqing hot pot was developed back in ancient times to satisfy poor dock workers who wanted a cheap, fast, and warming dinner. To help improve the taste of the meat they ate, the locals added more and more chilis and spices to their broth, thus giving birth to the famous Chongqing hot pot that we know and love today.

Yunnan Hot Pot 云南火锅

Yunnan cuisine has a reputation of being light and delicate with dishes highlighting the natural flavors of the ingredients, and their hot pot style is no exception. Yunnan hot pot contains a lot of Southeast Asian flavor influences and is possibly the most vegetarian-friendly hot pot available thanks to its rich broth flavor and focus on fresh vegetables. The broth is made from a variety of mushrooms and edible flowers that are also great for drinking in tea. Yunnan Hotpot in particular has become more popular in China in recent years, and it’s also my personal favorite as it is still very much a ‘Chinese’ hotpot, but with clear Southeast Asian influences.

Flower Hot Pot 菊花火锅

Originating from Jiangsu-Zhejiang, flower hot pot is more popular in Hangzhou and Suzhou but if you do a bit of digging, you’ll still be able to find one in Beijing. Flower hot pot is another one of the healthier hot pot options and is easily recognized by its tea-like fragrance and light flavors.

Contemporary Hot Pot

In recent years small single-portion hot pots kits using Japanese ingredients and unusual flavor combinations have popped up in convenience stores and supermarkets all over Beijing. While they might not have much of a historical culinary significance, they sure are fun!

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Photos: Unsplash, Uni You 

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