If you want to set one food goal for the whole family this summer that you can achieve without ever leaving Beijing, it could be to experience all the different types of hot pot that China has to offer.

I know, summer is already hot enough as it is, so the thought of sitting in front of a steaming pot of boiling broth sounds like the exact opposite of what you want to do. But contrary to what most people assume, hot pot is an all-year-round kind of food. In places like Sichuan the consumption of hot pot actually increases during the hotter months as locals believe that a healthy sweat during the hot weather helps them expel toxins.

So how many types of hot pot are there in Beijing and what are the differences between them? The types of pots used for cooking, the ingredients, and sauces all change depending on the region so this summer, step away from trusty old Haidilao and try some other authentic flavors from around the country.

The humble hot pot and all the ways to eat it.

Beijing Hot Pot 北京火锅

Classic Beijing hot pot is cooked on a copper Mongolian pot heated with actual coals. According to legend, it was brought to Beijing over 800 years ago by Mongolian soldiers who would boil thin slices of meat in their helmets for dinner. The Beijing hot pot broth is both very simple, and probably the healthiest around: consisting only of a few slices of ginger, scallions, and some dates with no oils or spicy sauces. Beijing style hot pot is usually served with a simple sesame sauce along with some optional condiments like scallions and cilantro.

Tibetan Style Hot Pot 藏式火锅

Very similar to the Beijing-style hot pot, Tibetan-style hot pot stands apart thanks to its use of yak bone to create the broth. The cuts of meat used for Tibetan style hot pot are also usually thicker than those used in other hot pot styles, making this one a rare but lucky find for meat lovers.

Chongqing Hot Pot 重庆火锅

From the simplest of hot pot flavors to the most intense, Chongqing-style hot pot is famous throughout China as the spiciest of them all. Indeed, the city of Chongqing in Sichuan Province is known as China’s hot pot capital as approximately five out of six restaurants are dedicated to the dish. What makes Chongqing hot pot so unique is the numbing hot spiciness known as mala (쮸윤) literally ‘numbing spicy’. The broth uses a lot of chili oils and the surface will usually be covered with a thick layer of chili peppers and mala peppercorns. It’s said that Chongqing hot pot was developed back in ancient times to satisfy poor dock workers who wanted a cheap, fast, and warming dinner. To help improve the taste of the meat they ate, the locals added more and more chilis and spices to their broth, thus giving birth to the famous Chongqing hot pot that we know and love today.

Yunnan Hot Pot 云南火锅

Yunnan cuisine has a reputation of being light and delicate with dishes highlighting the natural flavors of the ingredients, and their hot pot style is no exception. Yunnan hot pot contains a lot of Southeast Asian flavor influences and is possibly the most vegetarian-friendly hot pot available thanks to its rich broth flavor and focus on fresh vegetables. The broth is made from a variety of mushrooms and edible flowers that are also great for drinking in tea. Yunnan Hotpot in particular has become more popular in China in recent years, and it’s also my personal favorite as it is still very much a ‘Chinese’ hotpot, but with clear Southeast Asian influences.

Flower Hot Pot 菊花火锅

Originating from Jiangsu-Zhejiang, flower hot pot is more popular in Hangzhou and Suzhou but if you do a bit of digging, you’ll still be able to find one in Beijing. Flower hot pot is another one of the healthier hot pot options and is easily recognized by its tea-like fragrance and light flavors.

Contemporary Hot Pot

In recent years small single-portion hot pots kits using Japanese ingredients and unusual flavor combinations have popped up in convenience stores and supermarkets all over Beijing. While they might not have much of a historical culinary significance, they sure are fun!

KEEP READING: Haidilao, Beijing’s Family-Friendly Hot Pot Restaurant 

Photos: Uni You

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 June issue

Here’s an idea: let the kids treat you to a nice meal for a change. While most kids aren’t raking in the big bucks yet, there is a way they can treat the whole family. Hulu by TRB’s latest Kids’ Summer Coloring Competition lets kids ages 4-12 years old compete for chances to win meals for the whole family at Hulu and cakes to be delivered right to your house.

The competition is broken down into three categories: ages 4-6, ages 7-9, ages 10-12. All participants have until Aug 9 to complete their coloring of one of three Hulu kids’ placemats based on which age group they’re in. There are no rules on creativity or coloring materials used. If your kid thinks burgers should be rainbow-colored, then, by all means, make them rainbow!

Once they’re done, take a photo of their artwork and send it to the 2020 Summer Coloring Contest WeChat group by scanning the QR code below and letting the TRB Receptionist know you’d like to be added.

Rules:
Please submit all artworks in PICTURE format, with a separate message stating kid’s FULL NAME & AGE.
2) Each child may submit only ONE entry.
3) Please be reminded to KEEP the original artwork until the final prize is announced.

The final submission deadline is Aug 9 and the Hulu team will be announcing the winners on Aug 14. Good luck coloring!

KEEP READING: A Sneak Peek at the Brand New Hulu Shunyi 

Photos: Unsplash

Welcome to the parenting chapter of your life. Getting settled in Beijing can be a fun adventure for the whole family filled with new experiences, culture shocks that turn into fun cocktail party anecdotes, and delicious culinary discoveries that are bound to make it into your family’s recipe book. Here are our top tips on enjoying fun and stress-free dining as a family.

Indigo Mall

Have a Few Go-To Spots

Get acquainted with the kid-friendly malls and shopping centers in Beijing. Solana, Chaoyang Joy City, and Indigo Mall are known for their large selection of family-friendly stores, restaurants, and play areas. Restaurants in these malls tend to cater specifically to families so things like kid-friendly menus, high chairs, and shatterproof utensils are easily found. And should Junior throw a tantrum, the staff and other diners are more likely to be used to it.

Another unexpected contender on the family-friendly mall list is WF Central in Wangfujing. While the high-end luxury stores don’t scream family-friendly, the mall is well designed with large clean bathrooms and play areas to keep kids entertained in the powder room while they wait.

Kids Favorites

There are a few restaurants in Beijing that go out of their way to accommodate families. Annie’s Italian Restaurant has multiple locations all over the city and offers kid-friendly menu and a relaxing ambiance where comfort food and family fun go hand-in-hand. Likewise, Hulu by TRB now has two locations in Beijing, both with coloring sets and kid-friendly menus for the little ones. The Hulu team has a reputation for being extra accommodating with their guests so whether it’s a lunch out with your little one or a moms’ group afternoon tea out with many little ones, the team is always happy to make the arrangements so you and your friends will feel right at home.

Be Prepared

It doesn’t matter if you’re a parent in Beijing or anywhere else in the world, it’s always better to be prepared when there are little ones around. Have an extra set of kid-friendly utensils, diapers, and bottle handy is never a bad thing especially as local Chinese restaurants tend only to supply adult-sized chopsticks and glasses, due to differences in dining cultures.

Oh Poo!

For parents with young kids, changing poopy diapers is just a part of life. It helps when the restaurant (or the mall it’s located in) planned ahead and built changing tables into both the men’s and women’s restrooms, but not all places were designed with parents of small children in mind, and if you’re hoping to spend a day exploring and dining out in the hutongs, there’s still a good chance that all you’ll find are the ‘squatty potties’. Most restaurants (especially local Chinese ones) have private dining rooms and if you explain the situation, the staff are usually pretty understanding and will let you use one of their private rooms to change your baby. If you’re outside and there’s really no privacy available, well, then your baby’s comfort (and hygiene) comes first. Find a relatively quiet spot on the street and take care of business.

KEEP READING: Making Chicken and Mushroom Pasta, Family Style

Photos: Indigo mall, Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 June issue