Tiger Tiger Burning Bright

Photo © Rob Jones

One of the hang-ups of having lived in China for two years is a nagging feeling that a festival is about to happen.

And so there is. Chinese New Year, celebrated by a quarter of the world’s population at least, is coming up on the rails. 1st February is the day.

This year we say goodbye to the Years of the Ox and Rat - plodding ox, nasty little rat. Time for some positive energy.

And hello to the Year of the Tiger. The qualities associated with the Tiger are competitiveness, self-confidence, braveness, and with great willpower and strength.

The animals rotate in a cycle of twelve years, based on an old folk tale.

Called The Great Race, 12 animals took part to reach the Jade Emperor.

The order they came in the race designates the order in which the years are named.

The Rat won the race by riding on the back of the ox and jumping off at the last moment.

The Pig coming last.

2022 is the Year of the Tiger, known as a the king of all beasts in China.

It’s interesting how many day-to-day Chinese favourites have entered the supermarkets in the UK. A sign of how many Chinese people are now in the uk… studying mainly.

I think I have probably eulogised about dumplings before… they were always my go-to comfort food in China. Coming in second, like the Ox in the race, is steamed Bao Buns.

Oddly, you don’t find them in Chinese take-aways. Or at least I have never seen them. I have noted quite a few Bao Bun restaurants popping up, but usually sparsely attended as I don’t think people in the UK know what they are or what to do with them. Which is a shame. Because they are lovely.

Traditional Chinese steamed buns are round, a slightly chewy dough, with a filling, either pulled pork, duck or sausage and boiled egg.

Fresh are best. But actually the ones you can get in a supermarket are not far off.

An early salutation to the Tiger. A good omen for the year ahead? Hope so.

R