Share
Copied
Flowers of watercress. /VCG Photo
Upon encountering a picture of these delicate little white flowers, you probably would not think that they belong to a common vegetable on your dining table. But yes, they are the flowers of watercress.
This plain vegetable might not attract too much interest and, sometimes, it might be regarded as a weed in some regions. However, you will be curious to learn that in the distant continent from where it was originated, people from Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton), capital of south China's Guangdong Province, call it the western vegetable.
"Western vegetable" is a species called Nasturtium officinale, commonly known as watercress. /VCG Photo
Interestingly, almost no one calls this little plant "western vegetable" outside of Guangdong Province. One explanation might be that it was first introduced to Guangdong from Europe, and people back then had no other name options but to call it the vegetable from the west, and therefore "western vegetable." It has many other names in different regions, such as the "bean halves vegetable" and "water mustard."
Watercress leaves. /VCG Photo
Even though it was native to Europe, the watercress became an essential vegetable choice in Cantonese dining tables. It is such a good option to make a soup that you can hardly avoid it when you order soup in that province.
It is so widely cultivated in Guangdong that the people there had developed their own subspecies. It flowers like the common watercress but does not bear fruits. Watercress, as its name suggests, is an aquatic plant. Unnoticeable as it seems -- tiny leaves with stems that are usually around 30 centimeters -- it is one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by humans.
You are wrong if you are thinking about soup like this, click to see the next picture. /VCG Photo
This is the Cantonese style "western vegetable" soup. In this dish the watercress is usually boiled with bones. /VCG Photo
The soup has a light and sweet flavor and is a favorite among many people. However, this vegetable has a problem due to the presence of parasites that would damage human digestive tracts. Therefore, it is crucial to eat watercress when it is completely and thoroughly cooked.
China's Flora Tour
From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rain forests hidden in the southwest of China, all boast 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 designed by CGTN's Gao Hongmei.)
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)