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Delicious on their own when fully ripe or even cooked to “I LEGGED MYSELF EARLY MORNING
make a lovely chutney or preserve, one can also find them TO KOWLOON TO SEE YAU MA TAI
around Diwali time in Crawford Market in Mumbai or the
INA Market in New Delhi. FRUIT MARKET (ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS
Longan fruit: A small, round and sweet fruit, very similar GOVERNMENT VEGETABLE MARKET).
to lychee, is not to be missed. Very similar to how you would AND GUESS WHAT? I FOUND PARADISE.”
eat a lychee, the brown crisp skin is peeled to reveal this
white translucent, watery pulp.
Slurp it up and spit out the seed. I was told, the seeds are
actually used to extract oil. Chinese medicine shops sell Khimchi: Originally Korean, it is widely produced and
longan seed powder and essential oils for breast cancer eaten in China too. In fact, China is one of the largest
treatments and skin ailments. exporters of kimchi after South Korea to the world.
Ginseng root: Nature’s Viagra, it is often shopped by the There is a joke that even in Korea, the Koreans eat
locals to create secret homemade concoctions for making Chinese-made khimchi.
them like the X-Men (lol!) Khimchi is Chinese cabbage along with chillies and salt
Chinese red dates or jujube: It is available all year which is naturally fermented. I just loved eating some in
round. My favourite is steamed corn soup with dates, in a the market along with the soft tofu.
rich broth often with pumpkin chicken. Garlic chives: Flat, bright green and grass like, they are
Burdock root: This was something new to me and grown for their flowers and stems and often referred to as
something very healthy too. Often made into a tea, this Chinese chives. Greens are always galore in the Chinese
tea is a magical cure for diabetes, wrinkles and bladder diet whether steamed, fried or boiled. Garlic chives and
inflammation. sprouts, steamed or stir fried, with sesame oil and
These roots are long, brown and slightly hairy. Being Chinese wine hits the spot.
from the thistle family, they taste like boiled artichoke. While at it, I must add that the Chinese are complete
Burdock root is peeled and sliced – it’s great for stir fries mavericks in the art of preservation. Duck legs, dried fish,
and salads. dried orange peel… any creature edible found in the ocean
Tofu: I was never a fan of tofu until I went to Hong Kong. is dried and relished by all.
Just like how each family has their own “paneerwalla,” Another very common practise among the people in
the locals are particular about where they buy their tofu. Hong Kong is freshly grinding spices, nuts and beans.
I was amazed to see so many kinds of tofu - firm, very Ground beans and nuts are used extensively in Chinese
firm, hard and fresh, soft and super soft. desserts. Nut milks are very popular too. The aroma of
Tofu, made from soy milk, is gaining major popularity these freshly ground nuts and spices was rather orgasmic.
for its health benefits to the vegan world. You can even The list of ingredients that I found in Yau Ma Tai
buy tofu skins which are available in sheets and often Fruit Market can go on but I am almost salivating writing
used as spring roll or wanton wrappers. about this just like I was in a foodgasm at the market.

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