“Cider Loves Food,” contributor Meredith Collins (blogger extraordinaire at Along Came a Cider) explores the delightful world of cider and cuisine pairings, focusing this time on Chinese food to elevate your dining experience.
Let’s clarify something upfront. The term “American-Chinese food” might seem specific, but it’s essential to distinguish between the unique fusion cuisine many have grown up with and traditional Chinese dishes. American-Chinese food is a culinary genre in its own right, born from immigrant families and chefs adapting their skills and recipes to new ingredients and American palates. This guide is a loving tribute to these beloved flavors, offering cider pairings to enhance your enjoyment. Consider this your starting point for delicious explorations!
Wonton Soup & Cider
Wonton soup, with its delicate balance of savory broth, tender dumplings, and subtle sweetness from bok choy (Chinese flowering cabbage), is both comforting and light. Whether you opt for vegetarian wontons or the classic pork and shrimp filling, this soup is an ideal appetizer. To complement its lightness, consider pairing it with Nashi Orchard’s Hukari Asian Pear Perry. This perry boasts delicate notes of citrus, floral aromas, and a hint of honey, enhancing the soup’s subtle flavors without overpowering them.
General Tso’s Tofu (or Chicken) & Cider
General Tso’s, whether you prefer it with chicken or tofu, is undeniably popular. In fact, it ranks as one of the most ordered takeout dishes in America across all cuisines! Its signature bold sweetness and satisfying deep-fried crunch call for a cider that is equally vibrant. Eden’s Peak Bloom cider is an excellent match. This semi-dry cider offers ripe apple flavors and a distinct minerality, creating a harmonious balance with the dish’s sweetness and richness. It’s a sophisticated yet approachable pairing for this instantly gratifying Chinese food classic.
Hot Pot & Hoppy Cider
Hot Pot is a communal and customizable dish, centered around a pot of simmering broth filled with various ingredients. A typical hot pot might include bok choy, green onions, ginger, and thin noodles, all cooked together in a flavorful broth. For an unexpected but delightful pairing, try a hoppy cider. Stormalong’s collaboration with Exhibit A Brewing IPC (India Pale Cider) provides a crisp, citrusy, and slightly bitter contrast to the umami and spice of the hot pot. The hops cut through the richness, refreshing your palate between flavorful bites of this interactive Chinese food experience.
Sweet-and-Sour Chicken & Rosé Cider
Sweet and sour chicken, a quintessential American-Chinese dish, delivers a satisfying combination of crispy chicken, juicy pineapple, and crunchy bell peppers, all coated in a tangy sauce and served over fluffy rice. Given its inherent balance of flavors and textures, a complementary cider pairing works best. Thor’s Hard Cider Arctic Rosé is a fantastic choice. This rosé cider, crafted with wine grapes and Dolgo crab apples, mirrors the sweet and tart elements of the dish, creating a harmonious and enjoyable pairing that enhances the overall Chinese food experience.
Ma Po Tofu & Barrel-Aged Cider
Pairing cider with spicy Chinese food like Ma Po Tofu requires careful consideration to complement rather than compete with the heat. Ma Po Tofu is a complex dish featuring silken tofu, Szechuan peppercorns, and chili oil, offering a layered experience of texture, spice, and richness. A petillant or still barrel-aged cider, such as Stem Cider’s Le Chêne, is an ideal partner. The barrel notes, like vanilla and toast, in the cider help to temper the spiciness of the Ma Po Tofu, creating a balanced and nuanced flavor profile that enhances this bold Chinese food dish.
Vegetable Fried Rice & Funky Cider
Fried rice, a versatile and endlessly adaptable Chinese food staple, comes in countless variations. A delicious version might include pineapple, shrimp, tofu, peas, carrots, and ginger, showcasing the chef’s unique style. To cut through the richness of fried rice, especially fattier versions, opt for a bold and funky high-acid cider like Wayside Cider’s Hunt the Fox. This still cider (or a funky sparkling cider if you prefer) offers a refreshing counterpoint to the savory and often oily nature of fried rice, cleaning the palate and preparing you for the next flavorful bite of this classic Chinese food dish.
Fortune Cookie & Mimosa Cider
No American-Chinese food experience is complete without a fortune cookie. Despite their debated origins, these iconic treats are undeniably associated with Chinese restaurants in America. Their subtle aromas of orange and almond make them a perfect end-of-meal delight. To enhance this citrus note, pair your fortune cookie with a mimosa cider. Woodchuck’s Mimosa cider is widely available and combines tart orange juice with the crisp apple notes of hard cider. For a more adventurous option, Graft’s Lost Tropic incorporates tangerine and passion fruit alongside orange. Either choice provides a sparkling and citrusy finish to your Chinese food feast, hopefully with a fortune predicting good things to come!
Whether you’re cooking these dishes at home or ordering takeout from your favorite local spot, these cider pairing suggestions aim to elevate your enjoyment of American-Chinese food. Cheers to delicious discoveries!
Explore more exciting cider and food pairings in our Cider Loves Food series!
