What are the five fundamental flavors characterizing Chinese cuisine?
Answer
Sweet, sour, salty, pungent, and bitter
Chinese cuisine places a high value on achieving a specific equilibrium among its primary sensory components. The system mandates the harmonious balance of five fundamental flavor profiles: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, and bitter. This flavor structure is integral to the cuisine's overall philosophy, often intertwining with Daoist concepts like the *yin-yang* balance of food temperatures. Achieving this precise five-flavor harmony differentiates various regional schools within Chinese gastronomy, such as the fiery flavor profiles of Sichuan versus the delicate emphasis found in Cantonese styles.

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