# General Tao

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tao/34832>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 28, 2000, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tao/34832 "2000-09-28T02:32:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Konrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@Konrad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Konrad)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tao/34832/1 "2000-09-28T02:32:44Z")

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Who was General Tao and what was so special about his chicken?

(General Tao chicken is a common item on menus in Chinese restaurants.)

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**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tao/34832/2 "2000-09-28T02:42:58Z")

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They call it “General Tso’s Chicken” where I live. Judging by the ingredients, one can only surmise that the Great General was both diabetic, and a person who suffered anaphylactic reaction to sesame seeds 😃

```
Cartooniverse
```

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**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tao/34832/3 "2000-09-28T02:43:02Z")

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[Ask, and ye shall receive.](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgentso.html)