title: The Land of the Five Flavors: A Cultural History of Chinese Cuisine (Arts and Traditions of the Table: Perspectives on Culinary History)
author:  Thomas O. Hllmann 
description: Photos, posters, paintings and sketches alternate with recipes in this fascinating book, which takes ingredients from several types of available sources: part cookbook, part cultural history of China through its kitchen. (William H. Nienhauser, University of Wisconsin-Madison)<br /><br />Hllmann deftly blends descriptive text and illustrations together with dozens of brief, amusing tidbits from an amazing spectrum of Chinese historical sources. The book's great attraction is the presentation of many complex, extremely disparate materials in nimbly condensed, accessible form. Hllmann makes it look easy. (Anne Mendelson, author of <i>Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages</i>)<br /><br />Anyone interested in China or in food history needs this book, an insightful introduction to China's food traditions that is anchored in an understanding and appreciation of centuries of Chinese history and culinary culture, from the earliest empires to the present day. (Naomi Duguid, author of <i>Burma: Rivers of Flavor; </i>co-author of<i> Beyond the Great Wall: Recipes and Travels in the other China</i>)<br /><br />This engaging look at China's culinary history will appeal to readers interested in China and those who enjoy books on cooking.Library Journal (<i>Library Journal</i>)<br /><br />Rewarding and illuminating. (Rachel Anne Calabia <i>San Francisco Book Review</i>)<br /><br />Brief, readable, and entertaining... (<i>CHOICE</i>)
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  ![image](images/cover.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Land of the Five Flavors
  
  
  ARTS AND TRADITIONS OF THE TABLE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](images/f0iii-01.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _The Land of the Five Flavors_
  
  
  A CULTURAL HISTORY OF CHINESE CUISINE
  
  
  Thomas O. Höllmann
  
  
  _Translated by Karen Margolis_
  
  
  ![image](images/pub.jpg)
  
  
  COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS  
  NEW YORK
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Columbia University Press  
  Publishers Since 1893  
  New York Chichester, West Sussex  
  [cup.columbia.edu](http://cup.columbia.edu)  
  Copyright © 2010 Verlag C. H. Beck oHG, Munich  
  Translation copyright © 2014 Columbia University Press  
  All rights reserved  
  E-ISBN 978-2-231-53654-7  
  Support for this translation was funded in part by Breuninger Foundation and
  the Department of Asian Studies, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
  
  
  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
  
  
  Höllmann, Thomas O.
  
  
  [Schlafender Lotos, trunkenes Huhn. English]
  
  
  The land of the five flavors : a cultural history of chinese cuisine / Th