Why aren’t Chinese vegetables more popular?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed when I go to H Mart at the variety of vegetables, especially the greens - multiple varieties of bok Choi, yu choi, Chinese broccoli, pea shoots, mustard greens, Chinese spinach, etc. they are so delicious. Much better than broccoli kale and all of the boring leafy greens that they sell at my local Bethesda supermarkets. How have these not caught on? I would be so happy if the local whole foods would carry them. It is a special treat to get up to H Mart!

Side thought - Anyone seen me is in any of the little grocers in and around Bethesda?

Because American women don't know how to cook them.

[Anonymous]

Most of the Asian vegetables sold here are grown in warm regions of the US, in Mexico or by speciality farmers in greenhouses. Why would anyone assume Asian produce only comes from Asia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the Asian vegetables sold here are grown in warm regions of the US, in Mexico or by speciality farmers in greenhouses. Why would anyone assume Asian produce only comes from Asia?

OP didn't say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the Asian vegetables sold here are grown in warm regions of the US, in Mexico or by speciality farmers in greenhouses. Why would anyone assume Asian produce only comes from Asia?

OP didn't say that.

No, but a bunch of posters commented that they wouldn't get Chinese vegetables because of issues with Chinese regulation/environment/ag practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed when I go to H Mart at the variety of vegetables, especially the greens - multiple varieties of bok Choi, yu choi, Chinese broccoli, pea shoots, mustard greens, Chinese spinach, etc. they are so delicious. Much better than broccoli kale and all of the boring leafy greens that they sell at my local Bethesda supermarkets. How have these not caught on? I would be so happy if the local whole foods would carry them. It is a special treat to get up to H Mart!

Side thought - Anyone seen me is in any of the little grocers in and around Bethesda?

Because American women don't know how to cook them.

And Lord knows, American men are just totally useless.

I think there's a bit of a vicious cycle --they aren't widely available, so consumers don't know of them, aren't familiar with them, don't know how to cook them, etc., and so there's no demand so stores don't stock them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed when I go to H Mart at the variety of vegetables, especially the greens - multiple varieties of bok Choi, yu choi, Chinese broccoli, pea shoots, mustard greens, Chinese spinach, etc. they are so delicious. Much better than broccoli kale and all of the boring leafy greens that they sell at my local Bethesda supermarkets. How have these not caught on? I would be so happy if the local whole foods would carry them. It is a special treat to get up to H Mart!

Side thought - Anyone seen me is in any of the little grocers in and around Bethesda?

Because American women don't know how to cook them.

Haha, OP here and I am a Jewish girl from NJ (and not married to an Asian, either), and I figured it out (thank you internet). I guess this is probably true, but my mom certainly didnt know how to cook kale and now that’s everywhere, so there is certainly room for these veggies to ‘catch on.’

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bok choy is very easy to grow as a fall crop in DC. My most successful garden green by far and so good steamed.

When do you plant?

[Anonymous]

There are a ton of delicious vegetables (and fruit for that matter) that just aren’t commonly stocked at US grocery stores because people did not grow up eating them here so there isn’t much demand. It’s not specifically about these vegetables being Chinese. Jeez.

One of my favorites, which I’m now seeing more often but is still annoyingly hard to find, is kohlrabi. So good, raw or roasted! I wish it were easier to find mustard greens but I had no idea they were “Chinese,” I grew up eating them in Indian food. For that matter, I wish I could find chiku and sweet lime (south Asian) and chirimoyas (South American). But they apparently don’t transport well. Bummer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a ton of delicious vegetables (and fruit for that matter) that just aren’t commonly stocked at US grocery stores because people did not grow up eating them here so there isn’t much demand. It’s not specifically about these vegetables being Chinese. Jeez.

One of my favorites, which I’m now seeing more often but is still annoyingly hard to find, is kohlrabi. So good, raw or roasted! I wish it were easier to find mustard greens but I had no idea they were “Chinese,” I grew up eating them in Indian food. For that matter, I wish I could find chiku and sweet lime (south Asian) and chirimoyas (South American). But they apparently don’t transport well. Bummer.

Adding on — kale is delicious, no need to harp on it just to prop up your bok Choi dreams! And remember, kale was basically non existent in grocery stores before the early 2000s, so who knows, by 2040 maybe people on this board willl be complaining that they’re sick of all the shelves full of mei qing Choi and would like some variety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a ton of delicious vegetables (and fruit for that matter) that just aren’t commonly stocked at US grocery stores because people did not grow up eating them here so there isn’t much demand. It’s not specifically about these vegetables being Chinese. Jeez.

One of my favorites, which I’m now seeing more often but is still annoyingly hard to find, is kohlrabi. So good, raw or roasted! I wish it were easier to find mustard greens but I had no idea they were “Chinese,” I grew up eating them in Indian food. For that matter, I wish I could find chiku and sweet lime (south Asian) and chirimoyas (South American). But they apparently don’t transport well. Bummer.

Indian here. MOM’s has the most gorgeous green and purple kohlrabi in season but they taste just as blech as I remember them. 😝

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a ton of delicious vegetables (and fruit for that matter) that just aren’t commonly stocked at US grocery stores because people did not grow up eating them here so there isn’t much demand. It’s not specifically about these vegetables being Chinese. Jeez.

One of my favorites, which I’m now seeing more often but is still annoyingly hard to find, is kohlrabi. So good, raw or roasted! I wish it were easier to find mustard greens but I had no idea they were “Chinese,” I grew up eating them in Indian food. For that matter, I wish I could find chiku and sweet lime (south Asian) and chirimoyas (South American). But they apparently don’t transport well. Bummer.

Adding on — kale is delicious, no need to harp on it just to prop up your bok Choi dreams! And remember, kale was basically non existent in grocery stores before the early 2000s, so who knows, by 2040 maybe people on this board willl be complaining that they’re sick of all the shelves full of mei qing Choi and would like some variety.

Ha. But kale is a good case in point. I had never heard of kale before 2000, and then it became trendy and now it's everywhere. Food trends might be silly sometimes, but they do often serve to introduce people to new foods. Think quinoa!