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Hey friends! Have you ever wondered why Westerners love to nibble on that soft bread while we Chinese love hot steamed buns?
It's not just a taste difference, it's a food culture and history that has been around for thousands of years.
Today, let's talk about the "metamorphosis" of wheat and take a look at the untold stories behind the bread and steamed buns!
The era of handicraft, the first experience of bread
In those days when there was no machinery and no electricity, it took a lot of hands and patience to make bread.
Our ancestors, who inherited the stone mill from the Stone Tool Civilization, used it to finely grind wheat into flour, mix it with water and yeast, and knead it into dough by hand.
At that time, there were no modern ovens, so people could only use the warmth of the sun to spread the dough on bamboo plaques and dry it directly into dry and hard "cakes".
This kind of "cake", although rough, carries the awe and cherishment of the ancestors for food.
Interestingly, unlike the heavy bread of the West, the early "bread" of the continent tended to have only a few thin layers, no more than three centimeters thick.
This is not only because of technical limitations, but also because of our eating habits and ingredient choices.
At that time, glutinous rice was more common than wheat, and people also creatively steamed glutinous rice as a leavening agent.
Allowing the dough to rise naturally gives these "cakes" their unique texture and flavor.
From stone mills to machinery, the gorgeous turn of wheat
With the passage of time, the progress of society, the advent of flour processing machinery has completely changed the way bread is made.
From the first manual grinding machinery to the later steam-powered, electrically driven modern equipment, the production efficiency of flour has increased exponentially, and the variety has become more and more diverse.
The skin of the wheat is precisely separated from the wheat stalk, and the husk and husk bran of the rice are also in their place.
This not only makes the taste of pasta more delicate, but also greatly improves the utilization rate of grain and saves valuable arable land resources.
Wheat, an inconspicuous crop, is gradually flourishing on the land of China.
Its nutritional value is recognized by more and more people: rich starch and high-quality protein have made wheat flour a new favorite on people's tables.
From the exclusive enjoyment of the aristocracy to the daily life of the common people, the popularity of wheat flour not only enriched people's dietary structure, but also witnessed the changes in society and the progress of civilization.
The fusion of East and West, the collision and integration of bread culture
When we turn our attention to the West, we will find that the bread culture there has a similar history, but it has a very different development trajectory from the mainland.
Westerners use oxen-drawn horse-drawn wagons to make flour machinery, and they pursue the heaviness and depth of bread, which is ten centimeters high, not only to meet people's needs for food portions, but also to become a cultural symbol.
As time passed, the exchange of Eastern and Western cultures became more frequent, and bread began to build a bridge between the two places.
In the mainland, more and more Western-style bakeries have sprung up, and a variety of bread flavors are dazzling, satisfying people's infinite reverie of food.
At the same time, the traditional "cake" food in the mainland is also radiating new vitality in continuous innovation and integration.
Whether it is the reference in appearance or the fusion in taste, it makes people feel the unique charm of Eastern and Western cultures.
Wheat and humans, who domesticated whom?
Going back to the original question, between wheat and humans, who domesticated whom? Perhaps, there is no absolute answer to this question.
As a crop, wheat provides a rich source of food for human beings and supports the continuation of human life.
Human beings, on the other hand, have continuously improved planting techniques and improved processing efficiency through wisdom and hard work, so that the value of wheat has been maximized.
It can be said that the relationship between wheat and human beings is one of interdependence and co-evolution.
Wheat is not only a food, but also a carrier of culture.
It has witnessed the transformation of human beings from drinking blood to civilized society, and also recorded the exchange and integration between different regions and different ethnic groups.
With the company of wheat, mankind has gone through a long time and created a rich and colorful cultural heritage.
Ending: A hymn to wheat, a vision of the future
Now, when we taste that familiar bread again, we may as well be in awe and gratitude.
It is wheat that makes our table colorful; It is wheat that fills our lives with hope and vitality.
In the future, with the progress of science and technology and cultural exchanges, the story of wheat and human beings will continue to be written.
Perhaps one day, we will invent a more efficient and environmentally friendly flour milling technology;
Maybe one day, we will create more delicious and healthy new varieties of bread.
But no matter how it changes, the deep affection between wheat and human beings will forever be engraved in the long river of history and become our common memory and pride.
Wheat, this little seed, with its indomitable vitality, domesticated mankind and changed the world.
Let's look forward to a better future between wheat and mankind!