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Q texture

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Hokkien culinary term for the ideal texture of chewy foods Mochi is an example of a food with the chewy Q texture.Tapioca balls in boba milk tea is another example.

In Hokkien-speaking areas, Q (Chinese: 𩚨; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: khiū) is a culinary term for the ideal texture of many foods, such as noodles, boba, fish balls and fishcakes. Sometimes translated as "chewy", the texture has been described as "The Asian version of al-dente ... soft but not mushy." Another translation is "springy and bouncy". It also appears in a doubled, more intense form, "QQ".

The term originates from the Hokkien khiū (𩚨), which has a sound similar to the letter "Q" in English, and has since been adopted by other forms of Chinese, such as Mandarin. The use of the letter "Q" to represent khiū (𩚨) may have originated in Taiwan, but it is also widely used in Chinese-speaking communities outside of Taiwan.

"Q" in Sinitic languages has several other meanings, such as a shorthand for the English word "cute".

References

  1. Qin, Amy (2018-10-14). "In Italy, 'Al Dente' Is Prized. In Taiwan, It's All About Food That's 'Q.'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  2. Munchies Staff (2015-03-18). "The Mysterious 'Q Texture' You Didn't Even Know Your Food Was Missing". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  3. Spiegel, Alison (2015-03-18). "This Taiwanese Food Term Will Change the Way You Look at Gummy Candy". Vice. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  4. Russell, Laura (2017-05-01). "The Curious Case of Q". Roads & Kingdoms. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  5. Mair, Victor (2010-04-15). "Is Q a Chinese Character?". Language Log. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  6. ^ Erway, Kathy (2015). The Food of Taiwan. New York: Houghton Miller Harcourt. pp. 203–204. ISBN 9780544303010.
  7. ^ Lim, Stephanie (2016-05-13). "What is ... QQ?". Michelin Guide. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  8. Kangxi Dictionary: page 1417, character 34
  9. "𩚨 - 臺語萌典". 臺語萌典. Retrieved 2023-07-12. 形容食物柔軟而有彈性、韌性。
  10. Quartly, Jules (2020-01-21). "The True Story of Q". Taiwan Business TOPICS. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  11. ^ "Language Log » Is Q a Chinese Character?". Retrieved 2023-12-31.


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