FUN FACTS BN : Asparagus officinalis AKA 芦笋 (Lúsǔn), Sparrow grass. It takes three years from seed to harvest. Everyone makes “asparagus pee,” but whether one can smell depends on one’s genes. China is the world’s largest asparagus producer. Oceana County, Michigan is the self-proclaimed asparagus capital of the world. White asparagus is regular asparagus grown without sunlight. Purple…
Continue ReadingFUN FACTS Botanical name: Hibiscus sabdariffa (Malvaceae). AKA Roselle, Luo Shen Hua 洛神花 or mei gui qie 玫瑰茄, Agua De Jamaica, , Indici Flower. Native to North African and Southeast Asia. The seeds, leaves, flower and calyx are all used. 2 The leaves can be eaten green, dried, or cooked as a vegetable. Seeds are sometimes used as a substitute…
Continue ReadingFUN FACTS BN: (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) AKA 洋蓟 (yángjì). In China, it’s common practice to boil artichoke for the juice, but throw out the parts. Castroville, California claims to be the Artichoke Capital of the World. In 1947 Marilyn Monroe, then still going by her given name Norma Jean, was crowned Castroville’s first Artichoke…
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