3月已至，时令鲜货陆续上市，苏州人开启春季尝鲜模式。
As March ushers in multiple seasonal foods, local people in Suzhou are itching to have a taste.
Eight Seasonal Vegetables
kalimeris indica
Eight seasonal vegetables, i.e. wolfberry bulbs, kalimeris indica, shepherd’s purse, alfalfa, pea shoots, young red leaves of Chinese toon, fern, chrysanthemum nankingense, are available in early spring. To the city’s residents, their spring is not complete without eating these vegetables in season.
alfalfa
kalimeris indica
wolfberry bulbs
pea shoots
chrysanthemum nankingense
young red leaves of Chinese toon
Among others, young red leaves of Chinese toon are great favorites with many people for their unique fragrance and high nutrition value. However, this spring vegetable is not cheap at all -- it can be sold for RMB80 to 100yuan/500g when it’s newly available on the market.
Broad Beans
Local people in Suzhou usually eat broad beans when spring comes around. The broad beans which are currently available in the markets are grown chiefly in East China’s Fujian province.
Locally-grown broad beans, which are preferred by the elder generation in Suzhou, will come into the market starting April.
Springtime Bamboo Shoots
Spring bamboo shoots are essential to a well-known cuisine in Jiangnan Area -- Yan Du Xian (腌笃鲜, bamboo shoot soup with fresh and pickled streaky pork).
The spring bamboo shoots are very juicy and thus good for such cooking methods as frying, stewing, simmering, etc. It tastes good as well if you simply boil it. For this reason, Suzhou locals like eating spring bamboo shoots very much.
River Snails
As a Chinese saying goes, “Eat river snails in the first Chinese lunar month and clams in the second.” River snails are one of the earliest aquatic products that are available in spring.
River snails stir-fried with sauce are very tasty and go well with alcoholic drinks. But it’s not so easy to eat river snails as to cook them. Many Chinese people don’t even know how to eat them properly. Wanna have a try?
As the weather is getting warmer and warmer, spring leek and shepherd’s purse will come out in large amounts soon. Don’t miss out these gifts from spring!
