The Food Chain Let food do the talking
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May 21, 2025 Join food writer Aylin Oney Tan, a historian delving into culinary history, and Dr. Zhaokun Xi, a lecturer in Chinese cultural studies, as they explore how food communicates in unique ways. Discover the symbolism of gifting pears in China, hinting at separation, and the Ethiopian tradition of 'Gursha,' where feeding others fosters connection. Aylin shares fascinating historical uses of food as protest, while we also learn about the significance of Greek koliva in mourning rituals, revealing how food helps us express the unspoken.
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Turkish Coffee Marriage Messages
- Serve Turkish coffee with salt to discreetly reject a marriage proposal.
- Serve normal sweet coffee to accept, conveying tacit messages before weddings.
Black Pepper Symbolism in Weddings
- Black pepper in a traditional Turkish wedding dish symbolizes the mother-in-law's influence.
- The right amount adds flavor; too much signifies bitterness or interference in marriage.
Janissaries’ Soup Rebellion Signal
- Janissaries signaled unrest by refusing the sultan's soup and tipping cauldrons to the ground.
- This food refusal became a lasting expression for rebellion in Turkish language and culture.