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|title=Hainan Food (Hainan / Qiong Cuisine 琼菜) - Chinese Food Wiki
|title=Hainan Food (Hainan / Qiong Cuisine 琼菜) - Chinese Food Wiki
|keywords=Hainan Food,Hainan cuisine,Hainanese cuisine,琼菜,Wenchang Chicken,文昌鸡,Hainanese Chicken Rice,海南鸡饭
|keywords=Hainan Food,Hainan cuisine,Hainanese cuisine,琼菜,Wenchang Chicken,文昌鸡,Hainanese Chicken Rice,海南鸡饭
|description=Hainan Food, or Hainanese cuisine, is lighter, less oily and more mildly seasoned than mainland cooking, dominated by seafood and famous for Wenchang chicken (文昌鸡) and Hele crab (和乐蟹).
|description=Explore Hainan food by city and county, including Qiong cuisine, its four signature dishes, rice noodles, street snacks, seafood, tea, coffee, rice wine, condiments and Li and Miao food traditions.
}}
}}


[[File:Hainan Food.jpg|frameless|center|Hainan Food]]
{{Breadcrumb|parent=Chinese Food Map}}


{{Infobox food region
| name          = Hainan Food
| simplified    = 海南美食
| traditional  = 海南美食
| pinyin        = Hǎinán měishí
| image        = Hainan Food.jpg
| caption      = Foods associated with Hainan
| level        = Province
| parent        = [[Chinese Food Map|China]]
| capital      = Haikou
| cuisine      = Qiong cuisine (琼菜)
| last_verified = 2026-09-26
| dishes        = [[Wenchang Chicken]], [[Jiaji Duck]], [[Hele Crab]], [[Dongshan Lamb]], Lingao roast suckling pig
| snacks        = Hainan rice noodles, Baoluo noodles, Lingshui sour rice noodles, Qingbuliang, yibua
| ingredients  = coconut, seafood, rice, tropical fruit, pepper, fermented rice lees, Shanlan rice
| drinks        = Xinglong coffee, Fushan coffee, Wuzhishan tea, Shanlan rice wine
| alcohol      = Shanlan rice wine, local rice wines and spirits
| heritage      = Fushan coffee roasting is a provincial intangible cultural heritage craft<ref name="coffee-heritage" />
| subdivisions  = Haikou, Sanya, Danzhou, Sansha, Wenchang, Qionghai, Wanning, Dongfang, Wuzhishan, Ding'an, Tunchang, Chengmai, Lingao, Changjiang, Baisha, Qiongzhong, Ledong, Lingshui, Baoting
| related      = [[Guangdong Food]], [[Guangxi Food]], [[Fujian Food]], [[Hong Kong Food]], [[Macau Food]]
}}
'''Hainan Food''' is the umbrella for the food traditions of Hainan Province. It includes Qiong cuisine (琼菜), the island's four signature dishes, regional rice noodles, seafood, street foods, coconut and tropical-fruit dishes, tea and coffee, local rice wine, fermented seasonings and the foodways of Li, Miao and other communities.
Hainan cooking is not a single fixed style. Island, coastal, river-valley and upland food traditions use different ingredients and preparations. The provincial tourism authority describes Qiong cuisine as centered on fresh local produce and seafood, with steaming, blanching, poaching, stewing, frying and braising among its common methods.<ref name="qiong-overview" /> The best-known province-wide grouping is the Four Famous Dishes: Wenchang chicken, Jiaji duck, Hele crab and Dongshan goat.<ref name="four-dishes" />
{{Food hub cards
|link1=#Qiong cuisine and regional traditions|label1=Qiong cuisine|desc1=Island cooking, regional ingredients and foodways
|link2=#Hainan Food by City and County|label2=Cities and counties|desc2=Foods from all 19 city- and county-level areas
|link3=#Representative dishes|label3=Signature dishes|desc3=Four famous dishes, seafood and local specialties
|link4=#Street foods and snacks|label4=Street foods|desc4=Rice noodles, market foods, sweets and breakfast
|link5=#Rice noodles and staple foods|label5=Rice noodles and staples|desc5=Island rice-noodle varieties and rice foods
|link6=#Tea, coffee and drinks|label6=Tea, coffee and drinks|desc6=Mountain teas, coffee and tropical drinks
|link7=#Alcohol and rice wine|label7=Alcohol|desc7=Shanlan rice wine and regional brewing
|link8=#Condiments and ingredients|label8=Condiments|desc8=Fermented lees, chile, pepper and island produce
}}
== Food geography ==
Hainan's food map includes coastal fishing communities, the northern Haikou-Wenchang-Qionghai corridor, the eastern Wanning-Sanya coast, the western towns around Danzhou and Lingao, and central and southern upland areas. The groupings below overlap; county and community names are retained when they identify a particular food.
* '''Northern Hainan:''' Haikou, Wenchang, Ding'an, Chengmai and Tunchang. Rice-noodle breakfasts, fermented lees vinegar, coffee, chicken, pork, coconut foods and market snacks are prominent.
* '''Eastern coast:''' Qionghai and Wanning. Jiaji duck, Wanquan River foods, Hele crab, Dongshan goat, seafood, rice noodles and Xinglong coffee are among the local associations.
* '''Southern coast:''' Lingshui and Sanya. Rice noodles, seafood, coconut desserts, tropical fruit, fish and shellfish feature in local food and market dining.
* '''Western Hainan:''' Danzhou, Lingao, Changjiang, Dongfang and Ledong. Rice foods, roast suckling pig, duck, seafood, coastal fish products and county specialties are represented.
* '''Central and upland areas:''' Wuzhishan, Baisha, Qiongzhong and Baoting. Li and Miao foodways include Shanlan rice, bamboo-tube rice, colored glutinous rice, pickled foods, tea and rice wine.<ref name="shanlan-rice" /><ref name="baoting-food" />
== Hainan Food by City and County ==
This directory covers Hainan's four prefecture-level cities, five county-level cities and ten counties/autonomous counties. Entries describe local associations rather than exclusive origins; dishes and ingredients travel across the island.<ref name="hainan-food-map" /><ref name="west-coast-map" />
=== Haikou ===
* Hainan rice noodles (海南粉), breakfast rice-noodle soup, old-style tea-house dishes and street-market foods.
* Qilou-area snacks, coconut sweets, rice cakes, seafood and quick meals served with fermented chile or shrimp-based seasonings.
* Hainan rice noodles and Hainan-style chicken rice are linked to the island's wider food and migration histories; Hainanese chicken rice as served in Southeast Asia is a related diaspora dish, not simply identical to the local Wenchang chicken meal.
=== Sanya ===
* Seafood restaurants and market foods featuring fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish and tropical vegetables.
* Qingbuliang, coconut desserts, grilled seafood, Gangmen rice noodles and tropical-fruit drinks.
* Tourism and provincial sources describe Sanya's food in the context of the island's seafood and tropical produce.<ref name="qiong-overview" /><ref name="hainan-cultural-route" />
=== Danzhou ===
* Danzhou rice rolls / ''mi lan'' (米烂), Danzhou chicken and local rice-noodle foods.
* Danzhou zongzi, seafood, dried fish and household rice dishes.
* County and township entries include Changpo ''mi lan'' and foods from the island's northwest market towns.<ref name="hainan-food-map" />
=== Sansha ===
* Island and reef seafood, including fish, shellfish and preserved or dried marine foods.
* Food procurement and preparation reflect the city's dispersed island communities; this directory avoids assigning mainland dishes to Sansha without a local source.
=== Wenchang ===
* [[Wenchang Chicken]], traditionally served as white-cut chicken with a ginger, garlic and soy-based dipping sauce.
* Puqian fermented lees vinegar hot pot (糟粕醋), with seafood and vegetables cooked in a sour-spicy broth.
* Baoluo rice noodles, coconut foods and coastal seafood. Official Hainan sources identify Puqian, Wenchang as a well-known area for zaopocu.<ref name="qiong-overview" /><ref name="hainan-cultural-route" />
=== Qionghai ===
* [[Jiaji Duck]], associated with Jiaji Town, and foods from the Wanquan River basin.
* Wanquan River fish, Jiaji duck soup, rice foods, coconut dishes and seafood.
* The provincial food directory also records Qionghai as one of the main stops for local Hainan dishes.<ref name="qiong-overview" /><ref name="hainan-cultural-route" />
=== Wanning ===
* [[Hele Crab]], associated with Hele and Xiaohai Lagoon, and [[Dongshan Lamb|Dongshan goat]], associated with Dongshan Ridge.
* Hou'an rice noodles, Gangbei shrimp, Hainan black goat dishes and local seafood.
* Xinglong coffee and Southeast Asian-influenced foods reflect the history of the Xinglong overseas-Chinese community.<ref name="qiong-overview" /><ref name="wanning-food" />
=== Dongfang ===
* Sigeng roast suckling pig, seafood and foods associated with the western coast.
* Rice, fish and coastal produce are common in local food settings; Sigeng roast pig is a representative city dish in the provincial food overview.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
=== Wuzhishan ===
* Li-community bamboo-tube rice, Shanlan rice, sour fish soup and foods based on upland produce.
* Mountain yellow cattle, wild greens, tea and dishes from the central highlands.<ref name="qiong-overview" /><ref name="shanlan-rice" />
=== Ding'an ===
* Ding'an rice dumplings, local pork, chicken, rice cakes and foods prepared for festivals and family gatherings.
* Fermented lees seasonings and rice-based foods connect Ding'an with the northern Hainan food region.
=== Tunchang ===
* Tunchang black pork, Tunchang rice noodles and local market snacks.
* County food fairs and market streets feature local pork, rice foods and a range of island snacks.<ref name="tunchang-food" />
=== Chengmai ===
* Fushan coffee and foods from the Fushan area; local coffee roasting is a documented Hainan craft tradition.<ref name="coffee-heritage" />
* Qiaotou sweet potato, rice foods, citrus and seafood from the county's coastal and inland areas.<ref name="regional-brands" />
=== Lingao ===
* Lingao roast suckling pig, a slow-roasted specialty associated with the county.
* Coastal fish, rice, rice noodles and fish products.<ref name="qiong-overview" /><ref name="hainan-food-map" />
=== Changjiang ===
* Coastal fish and seafood, rice foods and dishes using local vegetables and mountain produce.
* Li-community foods and county produce connect the coast with Hainan's central uplands.
=== Baisha ===
* Shanlan rice, bamboo-tube rice, Shanlan rice wine, rice cakes, ''fish tea'' and ''meat tea'' (fermented or preserved community foods).<ref name="baisha-food" />
* Highland vegetables, tea and foods prepared for Li-community gatherings and festivals.
=== Qiongzhong ===
* Shanlan rice and Shanlan rice wine, made from upland glutinous rice; local production and fermentation practices are documented by the provincial agriculture department.<ref name="shanlan-wine" /><ref name="shanlan-rice" />
* Mountain vegetables, poultry and foods of Li and Miao communities.


== Introduction ==
=== Ledong ===


Hainan cuisine, or Hainanese cuisine, is derived from the cooking styles of the peoples of Hainan Province in China. The food is lighter, less oily, and more mildly seasoned than that of the Chinese mainland. Seafood predominates the menu, as prawn, crab, and freshwater and ocean fish are widely available.
* Huangliu old duck (黄流老鸭), a braised duck dish associated with Huangliu Town.
* Coastal seafood, tropical produce, rice foods and county market cooking.<ref name="huangliu-duck" />


Congee, mantou and baozi are eaten for breakfast, with a noodle dish also being widely eaten. This consists of fine, vermicelli-type noodles with various toppings and gravy. Along with lunch and dinner, late night outdoor barbecue dishes are also served.
=== Lingshui ===


== Culture ==
* Lingshui sour rice noodles (陵水酸粉), made with thin rice noodles, savory toppings and sour sauce.
* Coastal seafood, small yellow chiles, fish, shellfish and dishes from Li and Miao communities.<ref name="hainan-food-map" /><ref name="qiong-overview" />


After more than two thousand years of development, Hainan cuisine not only has the cooking methods of Fujian and Guangdong coastal provinces, but also absorbs the food culture of Li, Miao people and local aborigines, and introduces specialties from Southeast Asia and other places. Hainan relies on its unique nature. The resource advantage is rich in many rare and rare sea treasures. In Hainan, you can enjoy the taste of fresh seafood and original taste.
=== Baoting ===


* Li and Miao foods including three-color and five-color rice, bamboo-tube rice and Shanlan rice wine.
* Mountain poultry, tropical fruit and foods served at community gatherings and festivals.<ref name="baoting-food" />


== Famous Food ==
== Qiong cuisine and regional traditions ==


{| class="wikitable"
=== Qiong cuisine ===
|-
! Name
! Image
! Traditional Chinese
! Simplified Chinese
! Pinyin
! Description
|-
| Dongshan lamb
| 
| 東山羊
| [[Dongshan Lamb|东山羊]]
| Dōngshān yáng
| This dish comes from Wanning. The distinctive taste of mutton is noticeably absent from the dish. The meat, actually goat, is served tender and soft, after being stewed, roasted or braising|braised in coconut milk.
|-
| Hele crab
|
| 和樂蟹
| [[Hele Crab|和乐蟹]]
| Hélè xiè
| Hele crab originated from Hele, Hainan|Hele Town near Wanning, located on the southeastern shores of Hainan. The yellow meat of the crab has an oily texture and a strong aroma. It is usually served with ginger and garlic in vinegar, after being steamed.
|-
| Jiaji duck
|
| 嘉積鴨
| [[Jiaji Duck|嘉积鸭]]
| Jiājī yā
| Originating from Qionghai by the Wanquan River, Jiaji duck is made from steamed or boiled duck that was previously force-fed a blend of cereal and bean curd three times daily.
|-
| [[Wenchang Chicken]]
|
| 文昌雞
| 文昌鸡
| Wénchāng jī
| This dish, originating in Wenchang, is made from a certain type of free range chicken. The chicken is boiled and then cut into pieces. It is then eaten by dipping the pieces in a mixture of spices, including chopped ginger and salt. The chicken skin is typically yellow, with an oily appearance.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainan_cuisine</ref>
|-
|}


Qiong cuisine is a broad label for Hainan's local cooking traditions. Fresh fish and shellfish, poultry, pork, rice, coconut and tropical produce are prepared with steaming, blanching, poaching, stewing, stir-frying and braising. Seasoning may be light, sour, sweet, chile-hot or fermented depending on the dish and locality.<ref name="qiong-overview" />


=== Dongshan Mutton [[Dongshan Lamb|东山羊]] ===
=== Coastal, island and overseas-Chinese foodways ===


One of the four most famous dishes in Hainan is [[Dongshan Lamb]] or Mutton. Originally from Wanning, Hainan, this dish isn't the standard type of mutton. It doesn't have the typical mutton taste because it can be stewed, roasted or braised in coconut milk. It is very tender and soft and often comes with a thick soup for a full dish.
Fishing communities use fresh seafood, dried fish, shellfish and marine seasonings. In the northern and eastern coastal towns, rice-noodle shops, tea houses and shared hot pots form part of everyday food culture. Wanning's Xinglong community adds Southeast Asian influences to coffee, snacks and restaurant cooking.<ref name="hainan-cultural-route" /><ref name="wanning-food" />


=== [[Jiaji Duck]] [[Jiaji Duck|嘉积鸭]] ===
=== Li and Miao food traditions ===


The Jiaji Ducks are raised along the Wanquan River in Jiaji Town, Qionghai City. As they grows, this special breed is kept in coops and fed with rice, grain, sweet potato, and chaff. The meat is thick, the skin is thin, the bone is soft and there is very little fat. The cooking way of [[Jiaji Duck]] is also particular. The traditional way to prepare which it is to boil it in water, dice it, then eat with mixture of vinegar, chopped ginger and sesame oil.
Li and Miao communities maintain localized food traditions using Shanlan rice, colored glutinous rice, bamboo-tube cooking, rice wine, wild greens and preserved or fermented foods. Names and recipes vary by county and community; the province's agricultural sources document Shanlan rice as both a staple and a basis for rice wine and festival foods.<ref name="shanlan-rice" /><ref name="baisha-food" />


=== [[Hele Crab]] [[Hele Crab|和乐蟹]] ===
== Representative dishes ==


=== The Four Famous Dishes ===


[[Hele Crab]] originated from Hele Town, near Wanning, located on the southeastern shores of Hainan. The yellow meat of the crab has an oily texture, and a strong aroma. [[Hele Crab]] tastes best if steamed and accompanied with ginger together with vinegar. It maintains the original taste of the crab and tastes especially fresh and delicate. It is best eaten in autumn.
* '''[[Wenchang Chicken]]''' (文昌鸡) — a local chicken commonly served white-cut, with ginger, garlic or soy-based dipping seasonings.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
* '''[[Jiaji Duck]]''' (嘉积鸭) — a Qionghai specialty served sliced with a savory-sour dipping sauce; it is also used in coconut-bowl soup.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
* '''[[Hele Crab]]''' (和乐蟹) — a Wanning-area crab commonly steamed; Hele crab is identified as a national geographical-indication product by the provincial tourism source.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
* '''[[Dongshan Lamb|Dongshan goat]]''' (东山羊) — goat associated with Wanning's Dongshan Ridge, prepared by braising, stewing, dry-pot cooking or salt-baking.<ref name="qiong-overview" />


=== [[Wenchang Chicken]] 文昌鸡 ===
=== Other island dishes ===


The Wenchang Chicken is so named because it was first produced in Wenchang City. The chicken is free-range and on a high protein diet. The most traditional way to prepare Wenchang Chicken is "white cutting", which involves immersing the chicken in almost boiling hot water and cooked to preserve its softness and tenderness. It is then eaten by dipping the pieces in a mixture of spices including ginger and salt. All star-rated hotels and the major Hainan style restaurants can serve this dish.
* '''Zaopocu seafood hot pot''' (糟粕醋) — a sour-spicy broth made with fermented distiller's lees and vinegar, especially associated with Puqian, Wenchang.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
* '''Lingao roast suckling pig''' (临高烤乳猪) — a small pig basted and slowly roasted until the skin is crisp.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
* '''Sigeng roast suckling pig''' (四更烤乳猪) — an eastern-Dongfang specialty recognized in the provincial food guide.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
* '''Huangliu old duck''' (黄流老鸭) — a slow-cooked duck dish from Ledong.<ref name="huangliu-duck" />
* '''Wuzhishan sour fish soup''' — a highland fish dish prepared with a locally souring leaf, described in the provincial cuisine guide.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
* '''Li bamboo-tube rice''' (黎家竹筒饭) — rice cooked inside bamboo, with versions using Shanlan rice and locally available fillings.<ref name="baisha-food" />
* '''Hainanese chicken rice''' (海南鸡饭) — a related Hainan-origin chicken-and-rice tradition that became especially prominent in Southeast Asia; its local history is connected with Wenchang chicken but it is not synonymous with the island's white-cut chicken dish.


== Street Food ==
== Street foods and snacks ==


=== Hainan Hot Pot 海南火锅 ===
=== Breakfast and market foods ===


Like most regional cuisines in China, Hainan has its own variation on the classic, shareable meal, mostly focussed on its fresh seafood. In Sanya, fresh seafood is available all year round so this dish can be enjoyed in the summer or winter. The pot is relatively small as far as hot pots go. A typical seafood hotpot includes an assortment of seafood such as nutritious fish head, prawns, clams, crab, as well as plates of green vegetables for dipping in the pale soup bases.
* Hainan rice noodles, rice-noodle soup and savory ''yan fen'' (腌粉)
* Baoluo rice noodles and seafood noodles
* Hou'an rice noodles and Hainan-style pork/offal soups
* Lingshui sour rice noodles with fried fish, dried beef, peanuts, herbs and sour sauce
* Danzhou ''mi lan'' (米烂) and county rice rolls


=== Snacks and sweets ===


=== Hainan Lobster 龙虾 ===
* Qingbuliang (清补凉), a chilled coconut- or sugar-water dessert with grains, beans, fruit and other toppings
* Yibua (薏粑), a glutinous-rice and coconut-filled snack wrapped in a leaf
* Coconut rice, coconut cakes, rice dumplings and sticky-rice snacks
* Fried ice / fruit ice, coconut sweets, mango sweets and seasonal tropical fruit
* Hainan rice cakes, festival dumplings and regional sweet soups


Since lobsters live in shallow waters of tropical areas, you can get some pretty awesome fresh lobster right off the coast of Sanya. In Hainan, people eat the lobster raw with mustard or they fry them in oil. The meat is fresh, slippery and soft. Depending on the type of lobster you get (there are a few different types in Hainan), the lobsters claws maybe be big or small.
=== Tea-house and evening foods ===


* ''Laobacha'' (老爸茶), an informal tea-house meal with pastries, noodles and small plates
* Seafood barbecue, shellfish, grilled fish and late-evening market foods
* Fermented lees vinegar hot pot and island-style seafood hot pots
* Rice, congee and noodle meals served with tea or coffee


=== Turtle and Snake Tonic Soup 鲍鱼烩五蛇羹 ===
== Rice noodles and staple foods ==


Turtle and Snake Soup is special to Hainan and has been used as a Traditional Chinese Medicine to prolong life in ancient China. Thanks to Hainan's temperate climate, lots of snakes and turtles live near Sanya. Because of the believed health properties associated with eating snake, lots of traditional Hainan restaurants serve this soup.
Hainan has several rice-noodle traditions; they differ in noodle shape, sauce, toppings and local eating context. Common names include:


* '''Hainan rice noodles''' (海南粉), especially associated with Haikou and northern Hainan; served with a variety of savory toppings and seasonings.
* '''Baoluo rice noodles''' (抱罗粉), associated with Wenchang's Baoluo area and commonly served in broth.
* '''Hou'an rice noodles''' (后安粉), associated with Wanning and usually served in a pork-based soup.
* '''Lingshui sour rice noodles''' (陵水酸粉), dressed with a sour sauce and a combination of savory toppings.
* '''Danzhou ''mi lan''''' (儋州米烂), a rice-based noodle/roll food served with local toppings.


=== Hainan Breakfast Noodles 海南粉 ===
Other staple foods include rice porridge, glutinous rice, colored rice, coconut rice, zongzi, Shanlan rice and bamboo-tube rice. Hainan's breakfast noodle culture and regional varieties are documented in provincial food coverage.<ref name="hainan-food-map" />


If you weren't aware yet, noodles are a very popular breakfast staple for lots of regional Chinese cuisines. Originally, this dish was created in northern Hainan in Haikou, and was loved by urban residents of the island, but later spread to the rest of the cities. In Hainan, the noodles are made from rice flour and are usually topped with meat sauce, roasted peanuts and strips of bamboo.
== Tea, coffee and drinks ==


=== Tea ===


=== Wanquan Carp 万泉鲤 ===
* '''Wuzhishan rainforest large-leaf tea''' (五指山雨林大叶茶), a regional tea product from the central highlands.<ref name="regional-brands" />
* '''鹧鸪茶''' (partridge tea), associated with Wanning and eastern Hainan.
* Green tea, herbal infusions, lemon or calamansi tea and chilled tea drinks sold at tea houses and market stalls.
* ''Laobacha'' tea service, with a meal of pastries, noodles and small dishes.


The Wanquan River in Hainan is home to four different types of a fish called Cyprinoid, which is a type of freshwater fish including carps and suckers. In Hainan, these fish are aplenty in the Wanquan River and you can get them fresh in most parts of the island. The fish is typically poached, steamed or eaten in hot pot then covered liberally in sweet and sour sauce. The fish is rich in essential nutrients and delicious.
=== Coffee ===


* '''Xinglong coffee''' (兴隆咖啡), associated with Wanning's Xinglong area and its overseas-Chinese history.
* '''Fushan coffee''' (福山咖啡), associated with Chengmai; its traditional roasting craft has been listed as provincial intangible cultural heritage.<ref name="coffee-heritage" />


=== [[Hainanese Chicken Rice]] 海南鸡饭 ===
=== Fruit and other drinks ===


[[File:Hainanese Chicken Rice.jpg|frameless|center|Hainanese Chicken Rice]]
* Coconut water, sugarcane juice, tropical-fruit juices and sour-plum drinks
* Calamansi and citrus drinks, often mixed with tea
* Shanlan rice beverages and sweet rice wine in local food traditions
* Fruit-based iced drinks and ''chaobing'' (炒冰), a fruit-and-ice dessert preparation


Hainanese Chicken Rice is probably more well known in Singapore and Malaysia than the namesake of the dish, Hainan. This dish is actually based on another dish on this list, Wenchang Chicken, but with a little twist. The entire chicken is poached in traditional Hainanese style. The stock from boiling the chicken is used in cooking the rice to make it oily. The chicken's skin is jelly-like from being dipped in ice after it's finished boiling. It comes with a dipping sauce, usually red chili with garlic and soy sauce.<ref>http://www.spoonhunt.com/blog/top-10-must-eat-foods-while-visiting-hainan</ref>
== Alcohol and rice wine ==


Hainan's local alcohol traditions include rice wine and community-made fermented drinks; they are distinct from the island's broader commercial spirits market.


== Drink ==
* '''Shanlan rice wine''' (山兰酒) — a rice wine made from Shanlan glutinous rice and associated with Li communities, particularly in central and southern Hainan.<ref name="shanlan-wine" /><ref name="shanlan-rice" />
* '''Sweet rice wine''' and home-fermented glutinous-rice drinks, prepared for meals and community occasions.
* '''Distiller's lees vinegar''' (糟粕醋) — a fermented sour seasoning and hot-pot broth base, not an alcoholic drink.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
* '''Commercial spirits and beer''' — part of modern dining and tourism, but not a single traditional “Hainan liquor” style.


Calamansi is a popular local citrus fruit that was created years ago by crossing mandarin oranges and kumquats. Tart and flavoursome, it goes brilliantly with black or green tea, and either combination can be found at stalls all over Hainan.
== Condiments and ingredients ==


If it’s hot make sure you try one of the island’s most delicious sweet treats: Hainan mango roll. Fresh slices of mango are wrapped in diaphanous rolls of rice paper and topped with mango sauce. Each one is a little work of art on a plate.
=== Fermented and sour seasonings ===


Or if it’s really hot try fried ice: fruits of your choice – the local mango is amazing – blended with condensed milk and then flash-frozen into sweet and creamy sorbets. They’re an instant hit with children.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-hainan/must-try-street-food/</ref>
* Fermented distiller's lees vinegar (糟粕醋), used for sour seafood broth and hot pot
* Fermented chile, fresh small yellow chile and chile dipping sauces
* Shrimp paste, dried shrimp and fish-based seasonings
* Garlic, ginger, coriander, scallion, lime and calamansi
* Salted and dried fish, seafood pastes and regional pickles


=== Island ingredients and produce ===


== Dessert ==
* Coconut, rice, glutinous rice, Shanlan rice and tropical fruit
* Fresh fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, squid and other marine foods
* Black pepper, especially Dapo pepper, and other aromatic plants
* Chicken, duck, goat, pork and freshwater fish
* Coffee, tea, sweet potato, citrus, lychee, mango, jackfruit, longan and red rambutan


[[File:Qingbuliang.jpg|frameless|center|Qingbuliang]]
Hainan's public agricultural brand listings include products such as Wenchang chicken, Wanning Dongshan goat, Qiaotou sweet potato, Wuzhishan tea, Xinglong coffee, Dapo pepper and county fruits.<ref name="regional-brands" />


In addition to an abundance of fresh tropical fruit, you can find various desserts in Haikou from ice creams, creamy puddings to fruity smoothies. Despite it seemingly random list of ingredients you must try qingbuliang, a cool local sweet and cold dessert soup served in a glass bowl. This tropical snack which varies slightly from town to town contains chilled coconut milk with ice, watermelon, pineapple, raisins, sweet potatoes, peas, macaroni and jujube. Chaobing, literally means "fried ice" and is a freshly made sorbet-like dessert. You choose the fresh tropical fruit which is then blended, strained, and then poured into a special device that freezes the mixture on contact. Due to extreme low temps the chilling process produces a very fine ice crystal that results in a super smooth sorbet.
== Cooking techniques and food heritage ==


=== Common cooking methods ===


== Snacks ==
* White-cut poaching for chicken and duck
* Steaming fish, crab and shellfish
* Simmering, braising and stewing meat with clear or coconut-based broths
* Fermenting rice lees and making sour vinegar broth
* Roasting suckling pig and grilling seafood
* Cooking rice and glutinous rice in bamboo tubes, leaves and other containers


[[File:Yibua.jpg|frameless|center]] 
The provincial Qiong-cuisine guide lists steaming, stir-frying, blanching, poaching, braising, stewing, frying and pan-frying among common methods, emphasizing ingredient freshness and relatively direct preparation.<ref name="qiong-overview" />
[[File:Dried Coconut Pieces.jpg|frameless|center|Dried Coconut Pieces]]


Use of rice and coconut highlights many of Hainan's snacks. Haikou people are used to eating rice noodles for breakfast. In Haikou, you will find sticky rice pair well with coconut in many delightful chewy snacks, for example, yezifan (sticky rice in coconut) and yibua (glutinous coconut rice cake wrapped with banana leaf), and dried coconut pieces.<ref>http://www.ehainan.gov.cn/2017-12/21/c_121901.htm</ref>
=== Community and craft traditions ===
 
Shanlan-rice cultivation, rice-wine making, bamboo-tube cooking, colored rice, fish tea and meat tea are documented in Li and Miao food contexts. Fushan coffee roasting is another Hainan food craft with provincial intangible-heritage recognition.<ref name="shanlan-rice" /><ref name="coffee-heritage" /><ref name="baisha-food" />
 
== Food brands and regional products ==
 
This directory separates regional foods and public agricultural brands from individual commercial producers; inclusion is not an endorsement.
 
=== Regional product names ===
 
* Wenchang chicken and Wenchang coconut
* Qionghai Jiaji duck and Wanquan River foods
* Wanning Hele crab, Dongshan goat and Xinglong coffee
* Chengmai Fushan coffee and Qiaotou sweet potato
* Lingao roast suckling pig and coastal fish products
* Wuzhishan rainforest large-leaf tea and Shanlan rice products
* Haikou Dapo pepper, Sanya mango and Baoting red rambutan<ref name="regional-brands" />
 
=== Producers and food-service directories ===
 
* Coffee roasters and historic coffee houses in Fushan and Xinglong
* Rice-noodle shops by city and noodle variety
* Seafood markets, fishers' associations and regional hot-pot restaurants
* Shanlan rice, rice-wine and Li/Miao food producers
* Fermented lees vinegar makers and county snack workshops
 
Brand histories, geographical indications and food-making practices should be documented on their own pages with product, producer and certification sources.


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Wenchang Chicken]]
* [[Wenchang Chicken]]
* [[Jiaji Duck]]
* [[Hele Crab]]
* [[Dongshan Lamb]]
* [[Hainanese Chicken Rice]]
* [[Hainanese Chicken Rice]]
 
* [[Fujian Food]]
* [[Guangdong Food]]
* [[Guangdong Food]]
* [[Guangxi Food]]
* [[Guangxi Food]]
* [[Chinese Food Map]]
* [[Chinese Food Map]]
* [[Chinese Snack]]
* [[Chong Qing Hot Pot]]
* [[Chongqing Noodles]]
* [[Dan Dan Noodles]]
* [[Hot Dry Noodles]]


== References ==
== References ==


{{reflist}}
<references>
<ref name="qiong-overview">[https://en.hainan.gov.cn/englishsite/Dining/202509/a65d2afe167147b69b6535fdc2daf523.shtml Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Hainan cuisine: Let the world fall in love with the taste of Hainan”]</ref>
<ref name="four-dishes">[https://www.hainan.gov.cn/hainan/c100643b/202403/a00a4b10294847789d15a53add24ba0f.shtml Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Qiongzhou food through the ages”]</ref>
<ref name="hainan-cultural-route">[https://en.hainan.gov.cn/englishsite/Routes/202506/a8d44d3a7b354e7c9a4bcc74ec1a6e59.shtml Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Hainan cultural tour: From Haikou to Wenchang and Qionghai”]</ref>
<ref name="hainan-food-map">[https://www.hainan.gov.cn/hainan/mstc/202004/fec1d72e38334cb0bb680622c9d5470e.shtml Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Hainan food by region”]</ref>
<ref name="west-coast-map">[https://agri.hainan.gov.cn/hnsnyt/ywdt/zwdt/202602/t20260214_4030103.html Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “A food map of western Hainan”]</ref>
<ref name="wanning-food">[https://www.gqb.gov.cn/news/2020/0928/49595.shtml Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, “Overseas-Chinese community life: Exploring Wanning's diverse food”]</ref>
<ref name="huangliu-duck">[https://ledong.hainan.gov.cn/ledong/tsms/202404/b9c012ced2b74e5dbe1421e3004aa65b.shtml Ledong County Government, “Ledong foods”]</ref>
<ref name="tunchang-food">[https://en.hainan.gov.cn/hainan/sxian/202502/1ffa438725c94d35b8bbec4fac8dfc22.shtml Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Tunchang: Food, recreation and new tourism experiences”]</ref>
<ref name="shanlan-wine">[https://agri.hainan.gov.cn/hnsnyt/ywdt/zwdt/202408/t20240812_3713164.html Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Shanlan rice wine: A taste of Hainan's Li heritage”]</ref>
<ref name="shanlan-rice">[https://agri.hainan.gov.cn/hnsnyt/ywdt/zwdt/202508/t20250808_3910122.html Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Shanlan rice cultivation and Li food traditions”]</ref>
<ref name="baisha-food">[https://agri.hainan.gov.cn/hnsnytywdt/zwdt/202501/t20250124_3808449.html Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Baisha's Shanlan rice and Li food products”]</ref>
<ref name="baoting-food">[https://baoting.hainan.gov.cn/ywdt/mtkbt/202509/t20250901_3922815.html Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County Government, “Baoting festival foods and community traditions”]</ref>
<ref name="coffee-heritage">[https://agri.hainan.gov.cn/hnsnyt/ywdt/zwdt/202511/t20251117_3972118.html Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Fushan coffee roasting technique and coffee industry”]</ref>
<ref name="regional-brands">[https://agri.hainan.gov.cn/hnsnyt/ywdt/zwdt/202412/t20241202_3777645.html Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Twelve Hainan agricultural brands enter national directory”]</ref>
</references>

Latest revision as of 15:23, 26 September 2026


Hainan Food
海南美食
Hǎinán měishí
Hainan Food.jpg
Foods associated with Hainan
Level Province
Parent area China
Capital / seat Haikou
Cuisine Qiong cuisine (琼菜)
Last verified 2026-09-26
Foods
Representative dishes Wenchang Chicken, Jiaji Duck, Hele Crab, Dongshan Lamb, Lingao roast suckling pig
Snacks Hainan rice noodles, Baoluo noodles, Lingshui sour rice noodles, Qingbuliang, yibua
Ingredients and drinks
Condiments and ingredients coconut, seafood, rice, tropical fruit, pepper, fermented rice lees, Shanlan rice
Tea and drinks Xinglong coffee, Fushan coffee, Wuzhishan tea, Shanlan rice wine
Alcohol Shanlan rice wine, local rice wines and spirits
Recognition
Intangible heritage Fushan coffee roasting is a provincial intangible cultural heritage craft[1]
Places
Subdivisions Haikou, Sanya, Danzhou, Sansha, Wenchang, Qionghai, Wanning, Dongfang, Wuzhishan, Ding'an, Tunchang, Chengmai, Lingao, Changjiang, Baisha, Qiongzhong, Ledong, Lingshui, Baoting
Related places Guangdong Food, Guangxi Food, Fujian Food, Hong Kong Food, Macau Food
More
Foods
Representative dishesWenchang Chicken, Jiaji Duck, Hele Crab, Dongshan Lamb, Lingao roast suckling pig
SnacksHainan rice noodles, Baoluo noodles, Lingshui sour rice noodles, Qingbuliang, yibua
Ingredients and drinks
Condiments and ingredientscoconut, seafood, rice, tropical fruit, pepper, fermented rice lees, Shanlan rice
Tea and drinksXinglong coffee, Fushan coffee, Wuzhishan tea, Shanlan rice wine
AlcoholShanlan rice wine, local rice wines and spirits
Recognition
Intangible heritageFushan coffee roasting is a provincial intangible cultural heritage craft[1]
Places
SubdivisionsHaikou, Sanya, Danzhou, Sansha, Wenchang, Qionghai, Wanning, Dongfang, Wuzhishan, Ding'an, Tunchang, Chengmai, Lingao, Changjiang, Baisha, Qiongzhong, Ledong, Lingshui, Baoting
Related placesGuangdong Food, Guangxi Food, Fujian Food, Hong Kong Food, Macau Food

Hainan Food is the umbrella for the food traditions of Hainan Province. It includes Qiong cuisine (琼菜), the island's four signature dishes, regional rice noodles, seafood, street foods, coconut and tropical-fruit dishes, tea and coffee, local rice wine, fermented seasonings and the foodways of Li, Miao and other communities.

Hainan cooking is not a single fixed style. Island, coastal, river-valley and upland food traditions use different ingredients and preparations. The provincial tourism authority describes Qiong cuisine as centered on fresh local produce and seafood, with steaming, blanching, poaching, stewing, frying and braising among its common methods.[2] The best-known province-wide grouping is the Four Famous Dishes: Wenchang chicken, Jiaji duck, Hele crab and Dongshan goat.[3]

Qiong cuisine
Island cooking, regional ingredients and foodways
Cities and counties
Foods from all 19 city- and county-level areas
Signature dishes
Four famous dishes, seafood and local specialties
Street foods
Rice noodles, market foods, sweets and breakfast
Rice noodles and staples
Island rice-noodle varieties and rice foods
Tea, coffee and drinks
Mountain teas, coffee and tropical drinks
Alcohol
Shanlan rice wine and regional brewing
Condiments
Fermented lees, chile, pepper and island produce

Food geography

Hainan's food map includes coastal fishing communities, the northern Haikou-Wenchang-Qionghai corridor, the eastern Wanning-Sanya coast, the western towns around Danzhou and Lingao, and central and southern upland areas. The groupings below overlap; county and community names are retained when they identify a particular food.

  • Northern Hainan: Haikou, Wenchang, Ding'an, Chengmai and Tunchang. Rice-noodle breakfasts, fermented lees vinegar, coffee, chicken, pork, coconut foods and market snacks are prominent.
  • Eastern coast: Qionghai and Wanning. Jiaji duck, Wanquan River foods, Hele crab, Dongshan goat, seafood, rice noodles and Xinglong coffee are among the local associations.
  • Southern coast: Lingshui and Sanya. Rice noodles, seafood, coconut desserts, tropical fruit, fish and shellfish feature in local food and market dining.
  • Western Hainan: Danzhou, Lingao, Changjiang, Dongfang and Ledong. Rice foods, roast suckling pig, duck, seafood, coastal fish products and county specialties are represented.
  • Central and upland areas: Wuzhishan, Baisha, Qiongzhong and Baoting. Li and Miao foodways include Shanlan rice, bamboo-tube rice, colored glutinous rice, pickled foods, tea and rice wine.[4][5]

Hainan Food by City and County

This directory covers Hainan's four prefecture-level cities, five county-level cities and ten counties/autonomous counties. Entries describe local associations rather than exclusive origins; dishes and ingredients travel across the island.[6][7]

Haikou

  • Hainan rice noodles (海南粉), breakfast rice-noodle soup, old-style tea-house dishes and street-market foods.
  • Qilou-area snacks, coconut sweets, rice cakes, seafood and quick meals served with fermented chile or shrimp-based seasonings.
  • Hainan rice noodles and Hainan-style chicken rice are linked to the island's wider food and migration histories; Hainanese chicken rice as served in Southeast Asia is a related diaspora dish, not simply identical to the local Wenchang chicken meal.

Sanya

  • Seafood restaurants and market foods featuring fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish and tropical vegetables.
  • Qingbuliang, coconut desserts, grilled seafood, Gangmen rice noodles and tropical-fruit drinks.
  • Tourism and provincial sources describe Sanya's food in the context of the island's seafood and tropical produce.[2][8]

Danzhou

  • Danzhou rice rolls / mi lan (米烂), Danzhou chicken and local rice-noodle foods.
  • Danzhou zongzi, seafood, dried fish and household rice dishes.
  • County and township entries include Changpo mi lan and foods from the island's northwest market towns.[6]

Sansha

  • Island and reef seafood, including fish, shellfish and preserved or dried marine foods.
  • Food procurement and preparation reflect the city's dispersed island communities; this directory avoids assigning mainland dishes to Sansha without a local source.

Wenchang

  • Wenchang Chicken, traditionally served as white-cut chicken with a ginger, garlic and soy-based dipping sauce.
  • Puqian fermented lees vinegar hot pot (糟粕醋), with seafood and vegetables cooked in a sour-spicy broth.
  • Baoluo rice noodles, coconut foods and coastal seafood. Official Hainan sources identify Puqian, Wenchang as a well-known area for zaopocu.[2][8]

Qionghai

  • Jiaji Duck, associated with Jiaji Town, and foods from the Wanquan River basin.
  • Wanquan River fish, Jiaji duck soup, rice foods, coconut dishes and seafood.
  • The provincial food directory also records Qionghai as one of the main stops for local Hainan dishes.[2][8]

Wanning

  • Hele Crab, associated with Hele and Xiaohai Lagoon, and Dongshan goat, associated with Dongshan Ridge.
  • Hou'an rice noodles, Gangbei shrimp, Hainan black goat dishes and local seafood.
  • Xinglong coffee and Southeast Asian-influenced foods reflect the history of the Xinglong overseas-Chinese community.[2][9]

Dongfang

  • Sigeng roast suckling pig, seafood and foods associated with the western coast.
  • Rice, fish and coastal produce are common in local food settings; Sigeng roast pig is a representative city dish in the provincial food overview.[2]

Wuzhishan

  • Li-community bamboo-tube rice, Shanlan rice, sour fish soup and foods based on upland produce.
  • Mountain yellow cattle, wild greens, tea and dishes from the central highlands.[2][4]

Ding'an

  • Ding'an rice dumplings, local pork, chicken, rice cakes and foods prepared for festivals and family gatherings.
  • Fermented lees seasonings and rice-based foods connect Ding'an with the northern Hainan food region.

Tunchang

  • Tunchang black pork, Tunchang rice noodles and local market snacks.
  • County food fairs and market streets feature local pork, rice foods and a range of island snacks.[10]

Chengmai

  • Fushan coffee and foods from the Fushan area; local coffee roasting is a documented Hainan craft tradition.[1]
  • Qiaotou sweet potato, rice foods, citrus and seafood from the county's coastal and inland areas.[11]

Lingao

  • Lingao roast suckling pig, a slow-roasted specialty associated with the county.
  • Coastal fish, rice, rice noodles and fish products.[2][6]

Changjiang

  • Coastal fish and seafood, rice foods and dishes using local vegetables and mountain produce.
  • Li-community foods and county produce connect the coast with Hainan's central uplands.

Baisha

  • Shanlan rice, bamboo-tube rice, Shanlan rice wine, rice cakes, fish tea and meat tea (fermented or preserved community foods).[12]
  • Highland vegetables, tea and foods prepared for Li-community gatherings and festivals.

Qiongzhong

  • Shanlan rice and Shanlan rice wine, made from upland glutinous rice; local production and fermentation practices are documented by the provincial agriculture department.[13][4]
  • Mountain vegetables, poultry and foods of Li and Miao communities.

Ledong

  • Huangliu old duck (黄流老鸭), a braised duck dish associated with Huangliu Town.
  • Coastal seafood, tropical produce, rice foods and county market cooking.[14]

Lingshui

  • Lingshui sour rice noodles (陵水酸粉), made with thin rice noodles, savory toppings and sour sauce.
  • Coastal seafood, small yellow chiles, fish, shellfish and dishes from Li and Miao communities.[6][2]

Baoting

  • Li and Miao foods including three-color and five-color rice, bamboo-tube rice and Shanlan rice wine.
  • Mountain poultry, tropical fruit and foods served at community gatherings and festivals.[5]

Qiong cuisine and regional traditions

Qiong cuisine

Qiong cuisine is a broad label for Hainan's local cooking traditions. Fresh fish and shellfish, poultry, pork, rice, coconut and tropical produce are prepared with steaming, blanching, poaching, stewing, stir-frying and braising. Seasoning may be light, sour, sweet, chile-hot or fermented depending on the dish and locality.[2]

Coastal, island and overseas-Chinese foodways

Fishing communities use fresh seafood, dried fish, shellfish and marine seasonings. In the northern and eastern coastal towns, rice-noodle shops, tea houses and shared hot pots form part of everyday food culture. Wanning's Xinglong community adds Southeast Asian influences to coffee, snacks and restaurant cooking.[8][9]

Li and Miao food traditions

Li and Miao communities maintain localized food traditions using Shanlan rice, colored glutinous rice, bamboo-tube cooking, rice wine, wild greens and preserved or fermented foods. Names and recipes vary by county and community; the province's agricultural sources document Shanlan rice as both a staple and a basis for rice wine and festival foods.[4][12]

Representative dishes

The Four Famous Dishes

  • Wenchang Chicken (文昌鸡) — a local chicken commonly served white-cut, with ginger, garlic or soy-based dipping seasonings.[2]
  • Jiaji Duck (嘉积鸭) — a Qionghai specialty served sliced with a savory-sour dipping sauce; it is also used in coconut-bowl soup.[2]
  • Hele Crab (和乐蟹) — a Wanning-area crab commonly steamed; Hele crab is identified as a national geographical-indication product by the provincial tourism source.[2]
  • Dongshan goat (东山羊) — goat associated with Wanning's Dongshan Ridge, prepared by braising, stewing, dry-pot cooking or salt-baking.[2]

Other island dishes

  • Zaopocu seafood hot pot (糟粕醋) — a sour-spicy broth made with fermented distiller's lees and vinegar, especially associated with Puqian, Wenchang.[2]
  • Lingao roast suckling pig (临高烤乳猪) — a small pig basted and slowly roasted until the skin is crisp.[2]
  • Sigeng roast suckling pig (四更烤乳猪) — an eastern-Dongfang specialty recognized in the provincial food guide.[2]
  • Huangliu old duck (黄流老鸭) — a slow-cooked duck dish from Ledong.[14]
  • Wuzhishan sour fish soup — a highland fish dish prepared with a locally souring leaf, described in the provincial cuisine guide.[2]
  • Li bamboo-tube rice (黎家竹筒饭) — rice cooked inside bamboo, with versions using Shanlan rice and locally available fillings.[12]
  • Hainanese chicken rice (海南鸡饭) — a related Hainan-origin chicken-and-rice tradition that became especially prominent in Southeast Asia; its local history is connected with Wenchang chicken but it is not synonymous with the island's white-cut chicken dish.

Street foods and snacks

Breakfast and market foods

  • Hainan rice noodles, rice-noodle soup and savory yan fen (腌粉)
  • Baoluo rice noodles and seafood noodles
  • Hou'an rice noodles and Hainan-style pork/offal soups
  • Lingshui sour rice noodles with fried fish, dried beef, peanuts, herbs and sour sauce
  • Danzhou mi lan (米烂) and county rice rolls

Snacks and sweets

  • Qingbuliang (清补凉), a chilled coconut- or sugar-water dessert with grains, beans, fruit and other toppings
  • Yibua (薏粑), a glutinous-rice and coconut-filled snack wrapped in a leaf
  • Coconut rice, coconut cakes, rice dumplings and sticky-rice snacks
  • Fried ice / fruit ice, coconut sweets, mango sweets and seasonal tropical fruit
  • Hainan rice cakes, festival dumplings and regional sweet soups

Tea-house and evening foods

  • Laobacha (老爸茶), an informal tea-house meal with pastries, noodles and small plates
  • Seafood barbecue, shellfish, grilled fish and late-evening market foods
  • Fermented lees vinegar hot pot and island-style seafood hot pots
  • Rice, congee and noodle meals served with tea or coffee

Rice noodles and staple foods

Hainan has several rice-noodle traditions; they differ in noodle shape, sauce, toppings and local eating context. Common names include:

  • Hainan rice noodles (海南粉), especially associated with Haikou and northern Hainan; served with a variety of savory toppings and seasonings.
  • Baoluo rice noodles (抱罗粉), associated with Wenchang's Baoluo area and commonly served in broth.
  • Hou'an rice noodles (后安粉), associated with Wanning and usually served in a pork-based soup.
  • Lingshui sour rice noodles (陵水酸粉), dressed with a sour sauce and a combination of savory toppings.
  • Danzhou mi lan (儋州米烂), a rice-based noodle/roll food served with local toppings.

Other staple foods include rice porridge, glutinous rice, colored rice, coconut rice, zongzi, Shanlan rice and bamboo-tube rice. Hainan's breakfast noodle culture and regional varieties are documented in provincial food coverage.[6]

Tea, coffee and drinks

Tea

  • Wuzhishan rainforest large-leaf tea (五指山雨林大叶茶), a regional tea product from the central highlands.[11]
  • 鹧鸪茶 (partridge tea), associated with Wanning and eastern Hainan.
  • Green tea, herbal infusions, lemon or calamansi tea and chilled tea drinks sold at tea houses and market stalls.
  • Laobacha tea service, with a meal of pastries, noodles and small dishes.

Coffee

  • Xinglong coffee (兴隆咖啡), associated with Wanning's Xinglong area and its overseas-Chinese history.
  • Fushan coffee (福山咖啡), associated with Chengmai; its traditional roasting craft has been listed as provincial intangible cultural heritage.[1]

Fruit and other drinks

  • Coconut water, sugarcane juice, tropical-fruit juices and sour-plum drinks
  • Calamansi and citrus drinks, often mixed with tea
  • Shanlan rice beverages and sweet rice wine in local food traditions
  • Fruit-based iced drinks and chaobing (炒冰), a fruit-and-ice dessert preparation

Alcohol and rice wine

Hainan's local alcohol traditions include rice wine and community-made fermented drinks; they are distinct from the island's broader commercial spirits market.

  • Shanlan rice wine (山兰酒) — a rice wine made from Shanlan glutinous rice and associated with Li communities, particularly in central and southern Hainan.[13][4]
  • Sweet rice wine and home-fermented glutinous-rice drinks, prepared for meals and community occasions.
  • Distiller's lees vinegar (糟粕醋) — a fermented sour seasoning and hot-pot broth base, not an alcoholic drink.[2]
  • Commercial spirits and beer — part of modern dining and tourism, but not a single traditional “Hainan liquor” style.

Condiments and ingredients

Fermented and sour seasonings

  • Fermented distiller's lees vinegar (糟粕醋), used for sour seafood broth and hot pot
  • Fermented chile, fresh small yellow chile and chile dipping sauces
  • Shrimp paste, dried shrimp and fish-based seasonings
  • Garlic, ginger, coriander, scallion, lime and calamansi
  • Salted and dried fish, seafood pastes and regional pickles

Island ingredients and produce

  • Coconut, rice, glutinous rice, Shanlan rice and tropical fruit
  • Fresh fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, squid and other marine foods
  • Black pepper, especially Dapo pepper, and other aromatic plants
  • Chicken, duck, goat, pork and freshwater fish
  • Coffee, tea, sweet potato, citrus, lychee, mango, jackfruit, longan and red rambutan

Hainan's public agricultural brand listings include products such as Wenchang chicken, Wanning Dongshan goat, Qiaotou sweet potato, Wuzhishan tea, Xinglong coffee, Dapo pepper and county fruits.[11]

Cooking techniques and food heritage

Common cooking methods

  • White-cut poaching for chicken and duck
  • Steaming fish, crab and shellfish
  • Simmering, braising and stewing meat with clear or coconut-based broths
  • Fermenting rice lees and making sour vinegar broth
  • Roasting suckling pig and grilling seafood
  • Cooking rice and glutinous rice in bamboo tubes, leaves and other containers

The provincial Qiong-cuisine guide lists steaming, stir-frying, blanching, poaching, braising, stewing, frying and pan-frying among common methods, emphasizing ingredient freshness and relatively direct preparation.[2]

Community and craft traditions

Shanlan-rice cultivation, rice-wine making, bamboo-tube cooking, colored rice, fish tea and meat tea are documented in Li and Miao food contexts. Fushan coffee roasting is another Hainan food craft with provincial intangible-heritage recognition.[4][1][12]

Food brands and regional products

This directory separates regional foods and public agricultural brands from individual commercial producers; inclusion is not an endorsement.

Regional product names

  • Wenchang chicken and Wenchang coconut
  • Qionghai Jiaji duck and Wanquan River foods
  • Wanning Hele crab, Dongshan goat and Xinglong coffee
  • Chengmai Fushan coffee and Qiaotou sweet potato
  • Lingao roast suckling pig and coastal fish products
  • Wuzhishan rainforest large-leaf tea and Shanlan rice products
  • Haikou Dapo pepper, Sanya mango and Baoting red rambutan[11]

Producers and food-service directories

  • Coffee roasters and historic coffee houses in Fushan and Xinglong
  • Rice-noodle shops by city and noodle variety
  • Seafood markets, fishers' associations and regional hot-pot restaurants
  • Shanlan rice, rice-wine and Li/Miao food producers
  • Fermented lees vinegar makers and county snack workshops

Brand histories, geographical indications and food-making practices should be documented on their own pages with product, producer and certification sources.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Fushan coffee roasting technique and coffee industry”
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Hainan cuisine: Let the world fall in love with the taste of Hainan”
  3. ↑ Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Qiongzhou food through the ages”
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Shanlan rice cultivation and Li food traditions”
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County Government, “Baoting festival foods and community traditions”
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Hainan food by region”
  7. ↑ Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “A food map of western Hainan”
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Hainan cultural tour: From Haikou to Wenchang and Qionghai”
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, “Overseas-Chinese community life: Exploring Wanning's diverse food”
  10. ↑ Hainan Provincial People's Government, “Tunchang: Food, recreation and new tourism experiences”
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Twelve Hainan agricultural brands enter national directory”
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Baisha's Shanlan rice and Li food products”
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Hainan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Shanlan rice wine: A taste of Hainan's Li heritage”
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Ledong County Government, “Ledong foods”
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