Norwegian salmon for Chinese New Year
19 February 2007According to the Chinese, 18 February 2007 was the first day of the year. On this date, the Chinese Year of the Dog will give way to the Year of the Pig. The New Year celebrations, which last from 8 February to 4 March, mark the longest and most important of all Chinese festivals. And salmon will make sure they all have a very happy new year!
During the Chinese New Year celebrations, it is traditional to gather families together for huge meals. And furthermore, it is traditional for employers to invite their staff out for big dinners.
Norwegian salmon – the jewel in the crown
For many families, New Year is not complete without Yu Sheng – a traditional dish bringing happiness and prosperity into the new year. This is a salad made up mainly of raw seafood, finely chopped vegetables, peanuts, ginger and other delicious ingredients. But the real jewel in the crown is raw fish, and this is where Norwegian salmon really comes into its own. See the entire recipe here.
New life for an old tradition
At New Year, restaurants and hotels serve traditional Chinese dishes to symbolise happiness. Such dishes are also sold in supermarkets and hypermarkets. The Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC) is working in cooperation with hotels, restaurants and the convenience goods trade to breathe new life into old Chinese New Year traditions, with Norwegian salmon as the main ingredient. At the fashionable Raffles The Plaza hotel in Singapore, Norwegian salmon is the main ingredient in their sumptuous version of Yu Sheng.
Food chain Jusco in China has Yu Sheng with Norwegian salmon on special offer for the entire period.
The NSEC has worked for a long time to introduce Norwegian salmon to sales outlets carrying Yu Sheng. The use of salmon in this dish has breathed new life into a long tradition which has almost been consigned to oblivion. This is an exciting cultural exchange, with Norwegian salmon helping to uphold an old tradition. And this is how Norwegian fish exports are intertwined with Chinese culture, with delicious results.
Tradition started by two poor brothers
The tradition of eating raw fish during the New Year celebrations in China began during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD). According to a legend about two poor brothers, the Chinese think that eating raw fish ensures wealth and happiness in the New Year. The tradition started in the Guangdong Province and then spread to other parts of China. For the Chinese, the colour red means happiness, and this gives salmon a special place in the New Year celebrations. Read the entire legend here.
Contact person at NSEC: Merete Kristiansen, tel.: +47 97 51 89 09