saam1 se4 gang1三蛇羹
Definition
Snake stew made with three types of snakes: banded krait, Chinese cobra, and Chinese rat snake.
How it's used
Traditional snake soup is widely considered a seasonal delicacy in Hong Kong, specifically enjoyed during the autumn and winter months to boost vitality. It is almost always served with shredded lemon leaves and thin, crispy fried dough crackers to balance the rich texture and earthy flavour of the meat. Many people add a dash of chrysanthemum wine to enhance the aroma and remove any gamey scent.
Measure word
wun2碗wúnRelated words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with generic soup, as it is a highly specific medicinal dish that is rarely eaten as a casual everyday meal. It is also important to note that the term specifically refers to the combination of three types of snakes, so using it to describe any other type of snake soup is technically inaccurate.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
