Steps
- 1.
Suanmei Tang (Sour Plum Soup) (Beijing): Provides the foundational sour-sweet flavor profile
- 2.
Meigan Cai (Preserved Mustard Greens) (Guangdong): Used as fermentation starter for complex umami development
- 3.
Suanmei Yu (Sour Plum Fish) (Sichuan): Creates the characteristic tart counterpoint to spicy flavors
The Science
Primary Reaction
Lactic acid fermentation