Twenty-six of China's ethnic groups call Yun-nan home, each retaining their own traditions. Stretching from the Himalaya down to the sub-tropics, Yunnan encompasses extremes from alpine meadows to rainforest. It is the most diverse region in China culturally, biologically, and meteorologi-cally. On a culinary level, this means Yunnan is one of the most "delicious" places on earth. The region is famous for its mushrooms, hams, pickles, edi-ble flowers, its use of potatoes, and its love of chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. Yunnan's food is rich and unfamiliar, but much of it is actually quite easy to make, using simple techniques already familiar to cooks elsewhere in the world. Complete with profiles of local cooks, artisans, and farmers, as well as breathtaking on-location photography, the book takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the land of Shangri-La and introduces a new world of flavors.