Hokkien culinary term for the ideal texture of chewy foods
Mochi is an example of a food with the chewy
Q texture.
InHokkien-speaking areas ,Q Chinese :𩚨 Pe̍h-ōe-jī :khiū texture of many foods, such asnoodles ,boba ,[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] fish balls andfishcakes .[ 6] al-dente ... soft but not mushy."[ 7] [ 6] doubled , more intense form, "QQ".[ 7]
The term originates from theHokkien khiū 𩚨 [ 8] [ 9] Chinese , such asMandarin .[ 10] khiū 𩚨 Taiwan , but it is also widely used inChinese-speaking communities outside of Taiwan.[ 11]
"Q" inSinitic languages has several other meanings, such as a shorthand for the English word "cute".[ 11]
^ 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 . Retrieved2018-10-14 . ^ Munchies Staff (2015-03-18)."The Mysterious 'Q Texture' You Didn't Even Know Your Food Was Missing" .Huffington Post . Retrieved2018-10-18 . ^ Spiegel, Alison (2015-03-18)."This Taiwanese Food Term Will Change the Way You Look at Gummy Candy" .Vice . Retrieved2018-10-18 . ^ Russell, Laura (2017-05-01)."The Curious Case of Q" .Roads & Kingdoms . Retrieved2018-10-18 . ^ Mair, Victor (2010-04-15)."Is Q a Chinese Character?" .Language Log . Retrieved2018-10-18 . ^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 . Retrieved2018-10-18 . ^ Kangxi Dictionary: page 1417, character 34 ^ "𩚨 - 臺語萌典" .臺語萌典 . Retrieved2023-07-12 .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 . Retrieved2021-12-02 . ^a b "Language Log » Is Q a Chinese Character?" . Retrieved2023-12-31 .
