The Chinese Influence

A Chinese meal typically consists of two or more. A carbohydrate or starch such as rice or noodles accompanying dishes of meat, fish and vegetables. Spices such as ginger, garlic and onions are used in food preparation and preservation. In Chinese culture knives and forks  are considered barbaric because they are seen as weapons. However in Trinidad and Tobago the Chinese community use both chopsticks, knives and forks.

China was considered an agricultural based economy in time of a natural disaster would wipe out the food crop. To deal with this problem the Chinese people developed food preservation skills to extend shelf life of many foods. The Chinese who came to Trinidad bought these skills and have become popular can the wider community. This can be seen in the consumption of preserved mango, plum and pommecythere. Many of which we enjoy from time to time.