The names of dishes and cuisine styles can be found in ancient literature such as Chuci of Qu Yuan.
As Hubei has plenty of lakes, rivers and marshlands, freshwater produce are used as major ingredients in the local cuisine.
A key ingredient that is found within many Hubei-style dishes is the lotus root.
[1] Hubei cuisine emphasizes the preparation of ingredients and the matching of colors.
Its style is influenced by the cooking methods of the cuisines of neighboring provinces such as Sichuan and Hunan.