For thousands of years, Yunnan inhabitants communicated and traded with each other along what’s known as the “Tea & Horse Caravan Road.” This ancient trading route stretched for over 4000km, and served as a link to places like India, Tibet, and Central China.

Traveling for months at a time forced these traders to get clever with their culinary skills. Foraging for mushrooms and wild herbs became the norm, and the high altitude required cleverness to prepare simple things like rice. But beyond that, unique flavors and ingredients criss-crossed Yunnan from far-away places, making Yunnan’s cuisine incredibly diverse.

Discover these ingredients while learning to prepare local recipes that can become part of your recipe collection too.