Whenever people accidentally bring up the topic of green onion in China, our mind reflexively think of it as a flagship " food" in Shandong Province in east China. The image of a Shandong resident taking a big bite of a half-meter long green onion will undoubtedly leave a jaw-dropping impression for many.

As one of the most common plants in our day-to-day life, the green onion is a testament to the power of food shaping regional culture in China.

Green onion originated from western China and central Asia, but was not introduced to Shandong until 3,000 BC. Back then, people didn’t have too many choices as we do today in the vegetable market. The appearance of the green onion brought about a new option. Combined with its strong adaptability in harsh conditions and fresh taste, the Shandong people quickly fell in love with it.

In old times, people tended to prepare a lot of salted vegetables to have them last through the long, cold winter. Eating green onion without chopping it into small pieces could mitigate the saltiness of such foods.

Once locals discovered this, they would stock up on green onion to last throughout winter. This then became another distinguishing feature for northern Chinese. While those who live in the south buy green onion stalk by stalk, people in the north buy in bundles. You may not be able to tell apart Chinese from their accent, but the way they buy green onion will give a clue to which part of China they're from.

Today, all kinds of vegetables are accessible in local supermarkets through all four seasons. We no longer need to store bundles of onions to stave off the danger of starvation in winter. But many still insist on carrying on this old tradition even though markets within walking distance sell green onions every day.

In Shandong, people tend to show their love to the green onion to an even greater extent by seeing who grows the tallest green onion. Whichever part of China you are from, adding a small amount of chopped-up onion to most dishes is always believed to improve the taste in a subtle way.

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest, China boasts an array of plant species. In this series, we will go on a tour to learn about some of the most representative flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local geography and climate.

(Cover image via VCG.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)