A Hahha person said, “Every Hakka eats pickled vegetables.” This reflects Hakka people’s frugalness and explains the close connection between pickled vegetables and Hakka people.
 In the past, Hakka people were often in unstable living environment. They might be forced to relocate their homes at any time. Therefore, they saved food for difficult times. Hakka people showed hospitality by sharing food with their guests. Because in the mountain area collecting or purchasing food was not easy, long-term food preservation techniques utilizing sun-drying and pickling were developed. Dry radish, dry cabbage, dry bamboo shoots, dry beans, dry yams are examples.
 Pickling is a special technique of Hakka people. Hakka people’s pickled cabbage, leave vegetables, bamboo shoots, gingers, cucumbers, plums, pork, deer and other pickled food are with special flavor. Northern Hakka food features special orange sauce. Miaoli’s perilla sauce is also with a special flavor. Hakka people have developed sophisticated skills to preserve food.
Because Hakka people relocated their homes frequently, they developed industrious and hardworking habits. Their food is often non-expensive but with special flavors. Hakka population scatters in the hills. Their language use can be mainly distinguished into HaiLu and SiSian. Food shows minor difference in different groups. Special orange sauce is often on the table of restaurant in the north. It matches excellently with various kinds of meat. Restaurants in the north often use basil leaves to accompany meat. The smell is great. From the north to south, Hakka restaurants on the street display different flavors.

In general, Hakka food focuses on cooking techniques. Mastering slow cooking, stir fry, and stewing and the use of sauces are key to gourmet cooking. Internal organs of pigs are important ingredients for Hakka cooking. Large intestine of pigs with ginger, vinegar and special sauces is a famous dish of Yangmei Township. Many visitor come to Yangmei for this special dish.  

If you have not eaten Hakka dishes for long, you may stop at a Hakka village such as Yangmei to enjoy Hakka cuisine.