bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Fran Lu

Ask a user of the social media app RedNote what the new “world-famous” Chinese dish is, they will almost without exception say Chinese steamed eggs.
This is thanks to a trend of cooking steamed eggs, which some people mistakenly call “egg custard”, among domestic and international users on the app recently.
The trend began after a RedNote Chinese cooking influencer with 100,000 followers, @qunzidefan, posted a video recipe of the dish on January 18.
She added boiled water into whisked eggs, before putting the bowl of mix on the steamer rack for 15 minutes, achieving a perfectly silky, bubble-free steamed egg.
Her video seemed to spark the curiosity and competitiveness of other users, including the millions of new international netizens that flowed to the platform due to a potential ban on the Tiktok social media platform.
The outlawing of the platform has subsequently been put on hold by US President Donald Trump.

The video by @qunzidefan had 279,000 likes and 11,000 comments.
RedNote users from Germany, Scotland and the US then rose to the challenge.
RedNote is also known as Xiaohongshu in China, which means “Little Red Book”.
The steamed eggs made by a German user named Philip, who has 480,000 followers on RedNote, was widely praised as “better than those made by locals”.
Some said the dish seemed to be simple but required delicate timing and ingredient control to achieve a perfect result.
As if the contrast was not obvious enough, some Chinese users posted their failed steamed eggs, which look like beehives and cornbread, asking “Why can you make better steamed eggs than me?”
Some Chinese people tried to maintain their reputation by posting upgraded versions of the dish, decorating the surface with flower and Christmas tree patterns made of vegetables.
Some frowned upon some international foodies’ innovation of adding sugar to the steamed eggs, as the orthodox seasoning for the dish is salt.
Some suggested that the best way to eat the steamed eggs is to mix it with rice.
This was successfully picked up by a US user. Her post received the comment: “If you like it, it means that a small part of you has become Chinese.”

Chinese RedNote users had been warmly welcoming the international users, called Tiktok refugees by some, teaching them Chinese dishes, exchanging photos of their family and cats, and helping each other with English and maths homework.
A Chinese person said she was moved by the people who tried to communicate despite speaking a different language.
“This is how the world should be. We are people who give love and comfort to each other, regardless of our nationality, race, social background or political stand.”
On January 20, RedNote added a translation feature to its app, allowing people to translate unfamiliar languages by simply pressing a translate button.


China husband seeks help after late wife’s virtual house ‘legacy’ in video game was torn down

Women in China community chat group required to share menstrual dates, raises privacy concerns

Video of China woman evading lover’s wife by scaling high-rise wall to hide next door goes viral

China ‘most beautiful’ Shaolin-trained bodyguard in spotlight during French president visit

Trending in China

Overseas RedNote users impress by cooking ‘new world-famous’ Chinese steamed eggs

Overseas RedNote users have turned their hand to cooking what has now become the “new world famous” Chinese dish,  steamed eggs. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote/madisoninsf.com

Chinese netizens have been impressed by the cooking efforts of their international counterparts. Photo: RedNote

Overseas TikTok “refugees” enter into the friendly atmosphere on the Chinese social media platform. Photo: RedNote

China netizens help US RedNote user find long-lost Chinese classmate in 22 hours

Netizens in China have helped a RedNote user in the US reconnect with a long-lost Chinese classmate in just 22 hours. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

Katharina Celia reached out with a heartfelt posting on the Chinese social media app. Photo: RedNote

In less than 24 hours, the 21-year-old had reconnected with her Chinese friend. Photo: RedNote

Kindergarten kids in China who played husband and wife at school tie knot 20 years later

A couple in China who played husband and wife at kindergarten have tied the knot for real 20 years later. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Young love: The couple are pictured together in their kindergarten days. Photo: Douyin

Real deal: The young lovers get married and spread happiness across social media. Photo: Douyin

Taiwan teacher sues for emotional distress after rival sends funeral wreaths to her at new job

A teacher in Taiwan has sued a rival educator for emotional distress after she was sent funeral wreaths at her new place of work. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/ettoday.net

The wreaths were lined up outside the school where the “distressed” teacher was starting a new job. Photo: social media

A court in Taiwan ruled that funeral flower arrangements were not illegal. Photo: social media

Playful China cat sends resignation letter, loses owner job, Thai dog brings home bomb

A playful Chinese cat accidentally sends a resignation letter and a Thai dog brings home a bomb. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The curious cat caused keystroke chaos leaving its owner out of work. Photo: Shutterstock

The dog thought the suspect device was just another ball to brings home. Photo: Thairath

China live-streamer calls woman ‘mum’, uses emotional content to scam her out of US$76,000

A live-streamer in China has conned an elderly woman out of US$76,000 by convincing her he was like a real son to her. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The live-streamer convinced the woman to hand over cash by playing on her emotions. Photo: CCTV

The conman was eventually caught and handed down a heavy punishment by the courts. Photo: CCTV

News

People & Culture

International online foodies take up cooking challenge inspired by move to new social media platform, some even out-do Chinese counterparts


International online foodies take up cooking challenge inspired by move to new social media platform, some even out-do Chinese counterparts.


RedNote

TikTok

Chinese cuisine

Overseas RedNote users impress by cooking ‘new world-famous’ Chinese steamed eggs

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}International online foodies take up cooking challenge inspired by move to new social media platform, some even out-do Chinese counterparts

International online foodies take up cooking challenge inspired by move to new social media platform, some even out-do Chinese counterparts