From Grits to Chopsticks

Southern Folks Living in Southwest China

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A Different Kind of “Roundup”

May 25th, 2010 · 5 Comments · Uncategorized

For those of you back in the USA, it’s time to get outside and spray broadleaf week killer on those pesky dandelions.  I’ve always been amazed at how quickly they can go from a cute little ball of puffy seeds to large green intruders.  Before you know it, they can take over your entire lawn.

Of course, we have a different solution to that problem here in China – why kill it when you can eat it?

These women were carefully picking weeds (literally) behind our main school building recently, then sorting and cleaning them.  I watched for a few minutes to confirm my suspicion: they really weren’t grounds keepers – they were actually cafeteria workers!

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5 Comments so far ↓

  • Laurie

    yumyum. Do they eat the leaves? or the flowers?

  • admin

    As with everything here, nothing goes to waste (at least, not initially). The leaves are definitely the first target, often seen alongside other greens that get cooked in oil. The root will end up in a soup or hotpot, and the flowers will be dried and sold for part of a tea concoction (see this photo)

  • Mark

    Hopefully they are not watering the grounds with the same water they are using for the shrubs that you mentioned in an earlier post.

  • admin

    I try not to worry about such things, especially since the fertilizer is laced with TP.

  • Mark

    On a separate note….congratulations to Stephen on his recent graduation from HBS and with honors! We are glad that Susan got to attend. I know you are proud of his accomplishment.

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