Cooking is also known as "preparation." The term "cooking" refers to transforming raw ingredients into edible forms, while "preparation" involves enhancing food's taste, texture, aroma, and nutritional value—a process that relies on seasonings. Salt was the earliest seasoning. Historical records indicate that China began using salt for flavoring as early as the Shang Dynasty.As time progressed, people's demands for seasonings grew more sophisticated. Locally cultivated spices like star anise, Sichuan pepper, cinnamon, and dried tangerine peel emerged. Later, Western traders introduced chili peppers, black pepper, and cumin... Today, foreign seasonings further enrich Chinese dining tables—cumin, nutmeg, satay sauce, curry, fish sauce...Together with China's distinctive regional condiments like fermented bean paste, shrimp paste, and chopped chili sauce, they compose a marvelous symphony of flavors that never ceases to delight.
Seasonings not only add tantalizing tastes like sour, sweet, salty, and savory to dishes but, when used appropriately, also benefit human health.First, seasonings possess antibacterial properties. For instance, when preparing cold dishes, we typically add garlic and vinegar—not only to enhance flavor and aroma but also to kill bacteria. Second, seasonings help eliminate unpleasant odors. The pungent compounds in many animal-based foods not only dampen appetite but can also be detrimental to health when consumed in large quantities.Substances in seasonings—such as capsaicin in Sichuan pepper and black pepper, anethole and anethole ether in star anise, and volatile oils and organic acids in cinnamon—can chemically react with odorous compounds like aldehydes and ketones. This reduces unpleasant smells while enhancing aroma. Third, they act as preservatives.Adding seasonings increases the osmotic pressure of food cells, inhibiting bacterial growth. This principle applies to dishes like braised beef in sauce, pickled vegetables, and candied fruits. Finally, seasonings offer medicinal benefits. For instance, rock sugar moistens dryness and nourishes the lungs; black pepper strengthens the spleen and stimulates appetite; Sichuan pepper dispels cold and dampness... By pairing seasonings with appropriate ingredients based on their properties and consuming them according to individual needs, one can achieve both delicious flavor and health benefits.