Chinese President Xi Jinping is in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, making his first visit to India in seven years. With diplomatic meetings, official dinners and high-security schedules taking over the capital, there is another detail that often draws curiosity during a world leader’s overseas visit: what actually goes on their plate?
While Xi is staying at the Taj Palace in Chanakyapuri during his Delhi visit, his documented eating habits offer a far more interesting glimpse into how food fits into his official travels.
Unlike Vladimir Putin’s tightly controlled food arrangements during foreign trips, Xi’s documented meals point towards a different approach, with simple regional dishes and meals shared during rural visits. Here is what the
Chinese President has been known to eat when travelling for official work.
Xi’s Food Habits and Diet
These 73-year-old Chinese President is widely known for preferring simple, everyday Chinese food rather than elaborate or gourmet meals. On working trips and inspections, according to China Daily, the dishes that appear on his table are typically the kind found in ordinary households: rice, plain stir-fries, local stews, seasonal vegetables, dumplings and regional staples.
Public accounts consistently describe modest spreads. Braised chicken, mixed stews, stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts, wax gourd soup and similar home-style dishes feature repeatedly. Alcohol is usually ruled out. The emphasis is on familiar flavours and restrained portions rather than speciality or high-end cooking.
This preference has been visible both inside China and during some overseas moments. In the UK he joined then-Prime Minister David Cameron for a pint and a serving of fish and chips. In Switzerland he was photographed sharing Swiss fondue. With Russian President Vladimir Putin he once helped make blini topped with caviar. These occasions show a willingness to sample local food, yet the core pattern that emerges from his own working meals remains rooted in simple Chinese cooking.
Is Xi Jinping A Gourmet?
There is no strong public evidence that Xi seeks out fine dining or elaborate cuisine for himself. Official diplomatic banquets can of course feature carefully prepared Chinese specialities, but the meals associated with his inspection tours and personal choices tell a different story. What stands out is consistency: plain rice, everyday vegetables, modest meat dishes and an emphasis on avoiding excess.
