Hokkien culinary term for the ideal texture of chewy foods
Mochi is an example of a food with the chewy
Q texture.
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 ,[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] fish balls and fishcakes .[ 6] Sometimes translated as "chewy", the texture has been described as "The Asian version of al-dente ... soft but not mushy."[ 7] Another translation is "springy and bouncy".[ 6] It also appears in a doubled , more intense form, "QQ".[ 7]
The term originates from the Hokkien khiū (𩚨 ),[ 8] [ 9] which has a sound similar to the letter "Q" in English, and has since been adopted by other forms of Chinese , such as Mandarin .[ 10] 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.[ 11]
"Q" in Sinitic languages has several other meanings, such as a shorthand for the English word "cute".[ 11]
References
^ 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 .
^ Munchies Staff (2015-03-18). "The Mysterious 'Q Texture' You Didn't Even Know Your Food Was Missing" . Huffington Post . Retrieved 2018-10-18 .
^ Spiegel, Alison (2015-03-18). "This Taiwanese Food Term Will Change the Way You Look at Gummy Candy" . Vice . Retrieved 2018-10-18 .
^ Russell, Laura (2017-05-01). "The Curious Case of Q" . Roads & Kingdoms . Retrieved 2018-10-18 .
^ Mair, Victor (2010-04-15). "Is Q a Chinese Character?" . Language Log . Retrieved 2018-10-18 .
^ a b Erway, Kathy (2015). The Food of Taiwan . New York: Houghton Miller Harcourt. pp. 203–204. ISBN 9780544303010 .
^ a b Lim, Stephanie (2016-05-13). "What is ... QQ?" . Michelin Guide . Retrieved 2018-10-18 .
^ Kangxi Dictionary: page 1417, character 34
^ "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。
^ Quartly, Jules (2020-01-21). "The True Story of Q" . Taiwan Business TOPICS . Retrieved 2021-12-02 .
^ a b "Language Log » Is Q a Chinese Character?" . Retrieved 2023-12-31 .