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Every year on Thanksgiving and Christmas, the golden roast turkey appears on the table of the American people like a picture scroll, and has become an indispensable and bright protagonist in these two important festivals! Amazingly, according to reliable data, on Thanksgiving night alone, the American people will frantically consume about 300 million kilograms of turkey meat, which undoubtedly fully demonstrates the great worship of this large bird from North America in the country.
However, in Chinese mainland drinking and banquet occasions, turkey seems to be quite cold, little attention, and even people willing to devote themselves to farming are extremely rare. What is the reason for this remarkable contrast? Let's explore and solve this hidden puzzle by going back to the development of turkeys in the West.
Initially, when this wild bird first set foot on the European continent, it immediately aroused a lot of interest among the local population. People were amazed by the turkey's unique appearance of being tall and mighty, and some nobles even gave live turkeys as precious gifts.
As time passed, Europeans were surprised to find that the meat of turkey was so delicious, so all kinds of culinary masters came to show their unique cooking skills, making turkey quickly popular in Western European countries.
It is especially worth mentioning that in the United States, turkeys have an irreplaceable special status. It all dates back to the 17th century, when a group of English Puritans who had wandered overseas in search of religious freedom arrived on the unfamiliar continent of North America.
In this new land, they suffered from the double grind of cold and hunger, and almost fell into a desperate situation. At this time, the local Indians did not hesitate to provide them with an abundance of food such as turkey and corn, thus helping these British immigrants to survive their difficult situation.
On Thanksgiving the following year, the British were deeply grateful and sincerely invited the Indians to join in the grand occasion and share the joy of the harvest. Since then, turkey has become a signature food in the country's Thanksgiving celebrations and has gradually spread throughout the United States.
Roast turkey is not only found on the festive table of every family, but also on weekdays, turkey products such as roast turkey, turkey burgers, and so on are everywhere in the daily diet of residents.
Even on the eve of the traditional Thanksgiving, many U.S. presidents grant turkey amnesty as a sign of deep respect and care for this precious bird. Indeed, turkeys have become so much so integrated into the daily lives of the American people that they have become an important part of the country's unique history and cultural charm!
However, it is regrettable that, compared with the warm welcome of the United States, turkeys have never received sufficient attention and care in our great motherland, China. In addition to the gap between different dietary preferences and cooking methods, the high cost of farming has also become an insurmountable chasm.
This large bird, which originates in North America, is reared for a whole year and requires five to six times as much feed as the average broiler. At the same time, turkeys far outweigh other poultry in demand for space to move, which undoubtedly puts more pressure on the mainland's already tight land resources.
Faced with such high farming costs, family farms and caterers in China often feel overwhelmed and unable to afford to raise and process turkeys, making their presence scarce in the domestic market.
Therefore, we have to admit that the two different food cultural backgrounds, as well as the constraints of practical factors such as breeding costs, are the fundamental reasons for the neglect of turkeys in the Chinese market.
Although the turkey has long been an important cultural symbol of festivals in the Western world, especially in the United States, it has never won the attention and recognition of the general public in China.
If we want to reverse this situation, we will need more effort and patience. Let's all hope that one day, turkey will shine on the Chinese table and become a favorite delicacy!
Looking back on the passionate years of the 17th century, a group of English Puritans who believed in their faith decided to embark on a long journey of thousands of miles in pursuit of religious freedom, and finally reached the strange and treacherous North American continent.
They traveled across the Atlantic Ocean on a cold winter day in a rudimentary wooden sailboat, which lasted for more than two months. Finally, after countless hardships, these brave and resilient British immigrants managed to land on their new homeland of their dreams.
However, when they first set foot in this new land, they were greeted with even greater challenges. Bitter cold and hunger followed like demons, bringing these British immigrants who had just started a new life to the brink of life and death.
Just when they were in despair and almost lost all hope, a group of kind-hearted natives extended a helping hand with an incomparably broad heart and gave them selfless help.
They did not hesitate to take out the winter reserves they had treasured at home - fresh turkey meat, corn and other food to meet their urgent needs.
At this crucial juncture, these people from all over the world and with different cultural backgrounds have finally taken the first step of communication. They enjoyed a delicious turkey meal together, which was an opportunity to form a strong friendship.
In November of the following year, when these British immigrants ushered in the harvest season, they sincerely invited their local Indian friends to participate in the grand event and share the joy of the harvest.
The golden roast turkey on the table exudes an enticing aroma, and the fresh vegetables and fruits are colorful, and each dish bears witness to the joy and hope of life in this strange land.
It is rumored that this solemn and warm event lasted for three whole days and nights, and the atmosphere was warm and solemn.
Since then, this day has been revered as "Thanksgiving Day" every year, and has gradually spread widely in the United States. In 1863, when the Civil War was in full swing, President Lincoln solemnly declared the holiday a national holiday.
Today, on the eve of Thanksgiving, Americans gather around the table to enjoy turkey, a symbol of harvest and joy.
Perhaps it is because of this touching historical connection that the turkey has taken deep root in the United States and has become a unique cultural symbol of the country. It can be said that turkey has long been closely connected to the land of America and has become a witness to the vicissitudes of the country's history.
In China, however, turkeys have always been marginalized. In addition to the differences in dietary habits and breeding costs mentioned above, the lack of awareness of this exotic bird among the Chinese people is also an important factor.
After all, turkeys are not native to the mainland, and if they want to take root in this ancient and mysterious civilization, they will have to pay more hard work and a long wait.
Nevertheless, during those arduous years of pioneering, turkeys undoubtedly solved many survival problems for the heroic colonists. This large bird originated from North America, which grows rapidly, has a strong and plump body, and has delicious meat and rich nutrients.
Through in-depth zoological research, you may find that an adult turkey can weigh a staggering 25 pounds, which translates to about 11 kilograms, and when they spread their wings, they can even reach a width of 1.5 meters, which is far more than the domestic poultry we are familiar with.
This has to be admired for the wonder of the biological world!
At the same time, turkeys have relatively little feed requirements compared to other poultry and can be easily raised in just one year, thus greatly alleviating the food urgency, and is indeed the best in the farming industry.
Thanks to the precipitation of time, the status of turkeys in the United States has also changed dramatically. Today, it is more than just an ingredient, but an important symbol of the country's unique culture.
Whenever Thanksgiving Day is approaching, people will always put a golden color and aroma of roast whole chicken on the table, which has become a symbol of the American celebration of the holiday, and it is proud that on Thanksgiving, Americans consume as much as 300 million kilograms of turkey meat, which undoubtedly allows every citizen to taste this delicious food and share a happy time.
It is no exaggeration to say that the status of turkey in the United States is almost equal to that of a national treasure. Every year on the eve of Thanksgiving, students in Washington, D.C., gather around the White House to plan and hold a solemn rally, calling on the president to bravely exercise his right of pardon to protect this famous "national fire".
Similarly, some precious literary works have affectionately depicted the mystical charm of turkeys, such as Virginia Woolf in her writings: "Every Christmas Eve, we always carefully select a plump and fat turkey, whose complexion is ruddy and gorgeous, and whose eyes are full of longing and helplessness." ”
All in all, turkeys have become an integral part of the lives of the American people, and they can even be said to be an important element of the country's unique cultural charm.
Whether it's the protagonist at a Thanksgiving feast or an essential ingredient in everyday cooking, turkey has always been intimately connected to the vast land of America, and has become a witness to the vicissitudes of the country's history.