What is MAOCAI?

MAOCAI is a very distinctive snack in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. It is made by cooking the dishes in a soup prepared with Chinese medicinal materials and various seasonings. "MAOCAI" is a special dish in Sichuan. If you think this is just one dish, then you are completely wrong. It's just a cooking method. The dishes made with this method are called "MAOCAI". The character "MAO" here is a verb, meaning cooking the dishes in a pot until they are done and then serving them in a bowl with a ladle of soup. There are no limits on the raw materials of MAOCAI. All kinds of food ingredients can be used. The difference between MAOCAI and chuanchuanxiang (skewered food) and hot pot probably lies in that the soup of maocai can be drunk and is healthier with less oil content. While the soup base of chuanchuanxiang and hot pot is probably something no one dares to ladle into their mouths. Over time, MAOCAI has gained popularity not only in China but also in other countries, where food lovers seek new culinary experiences.