heatiness

n. a characteristic of certain foods or stimulants said to cause emotional or physical reactions associated with temper, fever, passion, excess, or true heat. Subjects: China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Food & Drink, Health

Editorial Note: From Chinese culture and medicine.

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Citations: 1993 Teh Hooi Ling Business Times Singapore (May 26) “Herbal Jelly Maker Goes Global With Help From Sisir”: The company was started two years ago to produce the jelly—which many Chinese believe can relieve “heatiness”—from about 20 types of herbs. 1994 James Chadwick South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) (Aug. 2) “Understanding the Key to Tapping the Mainland” p. 3: The heart of the matter is the intricate philosophy of “heatiness and cooliness”—a traditional Chinese belief in the balance between hot and cold air within the body. “To understand the market, you must understand the myths. Cognac is perceived as being ‘heaty’—it encourages sexual activity. Whisky and menthol cigarettes are ‘cooling,‘“ Ms So said. “The marketing strategists have to understand these things—they have to overcome deep-rooted perceptions.” 1996 Kieran Cooke Financial Times (London, U.K.) (Feb. 17) “Dispatches: Irish Year of the Rat”: The other ailment Doris waxes lyrical about is a peculiar affliction called heatiness. This, according to Chinese culinary traditionalists, is caused by eating the wrong combinations of foods or downing too much strong alcohol, thus provoking a fire inside. 2001 ["kan" ] Usenet: soc.culture.thai (Oct. 21) “Re: What does “Ron nai” translate to”: Ron-Nai is what the Chinese call “re-qi” which is roughtly translated as “heatiness” which is a term widely used by Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese.…Food that is typically known as “heaty” will include fried food, food high in fat content and certain fruits such as Jack-fruit. Heatiness will cover a whole spectrum of symptoms from indigestion, mouth ulcers and feelling febrile. It may also cause halithosis. The opposite spectrum is “cooling” food which includes fruits such as water-melon and a variety of herbs to counter heatiness such as Chrysantemum tea, etc. Too much cooling food may cause cough and abdominal pain. 2004 Teo Pau Lin Straits Times (Singapore) (June 13) “Prickly heat”: Eating mangosteens can counter the “heatiness” of durians. Fact: Once again, Dr Zainal said there is no scientific evidence to support this.

Posted 12 Jul 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend