Imported fruits like cherries typically cost between 400,000 – 700,000 VND/kg, yet there is a wild plant that grows abundantly in rural Vietnam being sold at sky-high prices as a vegetable in China.
Wild Plant in Vietnam, Sold at High Prices in China
The young shoots of Toona sinensis are highly favored by Chinese consumers. (Photo: sohu.com)
The young shoots of Toona sinensis (commonly known as Chinese Mahogany or Fragrant Toona) are currently very popular among Chinese consumers, who purchase them to eat as a vegetable.
Toona sinensis has the scientific name Toona sinensis (A. Juss) Roem, reaching heights of 20 to 30 meters, with an umbrella-shaped canopy, bark that smells like garlic, compound feather-like leaves, white flower clusters, and oval or egg-shaped brown glossy fruits.
This tree grows naturally in many northern border provinces of Vietnam such as Lai Chau, Son La, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son… as well as in southern provinces of China.
This is a light-loving tree with a rapid growth rate, shedding its leaves in the dry season; it flowers from May to July and the fruits ripen around October to December.
The young shoots of Toona sinensis have a very distinctive fragrance and can only be eaten in the spring, as their flavor diminishes after this season, making them less palatable or even inedible.
Thus, there is a saying in China: “Before the rain, the young shoots are as soft as silk; after the rain, they are as hard as wood.”
Toona sinensis grows naturally in many northern border provinces of Vietnam. (Photo: alicdn)
According to Sohu, a Chinese news site, a few years ago, young shoots of Toona sinensis were sold in China at a price not cheap, around 140 RMB/kg (480,000 VND/kg); however, from last year to now, they are sold for a higher price of about 180 RMB/kg (615,000 VND/kg).
According to Sohu’s reporters, due to the high price, young shoots of Toona sinensis are not for the masses, and Chinese consumers tend to buy small quantities to try.
The price of about 180 RMB/kg is not the highest. Reporters found them being sold in a vegetable market on Nanjing Road (Shanghai) for 240 RMB/kg (820,000 VND/kg).
Wang Shui, a trader there, stated that the young shoots are air-freighted from Honghe Prefecture in Yunnan Province to Shanghai. This variety is the red young shoots, known for their special aroma, and they are relatively rare, thus priced above 200 RMB/kg (680,000 VND/kg).
Additionally, there are green young shoots from Shaanxi available in the market, which are sold at half the price of the red young shoots; however, their sales volume is significantly lower compared to the red variety.
According to Sohu, Toona sinensis is widely cultivated in provinces such as Sichuan, Anhui, Shaanxi, and Yunnan in China. Local residents grow this tree primarily for its young shoots. Currently, most young shoots available in the Chinese market come from Yunnan.
So what is the value of Toona sinensis shoots? Why are they priced higher than meat, fish, and some imported fruits?
Nutritional Food but Hazardous if Consumed Incorrectly
Yang Thuy Ngoc, acting head of the Nutrition Department at the Asian Vegetable and Fruit Center in Taiwan (China), has studied the antioxidant properties of over 100 types of vegetables in Asia and found that the antioxidant properties of Toona sinensis are the highest, and its anti-cancer effects are 3 to 10 times greater than that of sweet potato leaves.
The young shoots of Toona sinensis have medicinal properties such as clearing heat, detoxifying, stopping bleeding, killing bacteria, and treating intestinal inflammation. Recent findings about this plant also indicate it has anti-cancer properties and helps reduce blood sugar levels, which is very beneficial for health.
Among over 100 types of vegetables in Asia, Toona sinensis ranks first in antioxidant properties, with anti-cancer effects 3 to 10 times greater than sweet potato leaves. (Photo: Ifeng)
Many ancient Chinese medical texts also record Toona sinensis as a good medicinal herb. In the “Compendium of Materia Medica,” it states: “Leaves boiled in water can cleanse ulcers, sores, and gangrene.”
The “Bencao Gangmu” from the Ming Dynasty mentions: “Toona sinensis can dispel wind and detoxify; its leaves can promote hair growth, treat jaundice, and expel roundworms.”
The “Lang Xuan Bencao” states: “Toona sinensis is beneficial for the stomach, helps stop bleeding, kill bacteria, and treat dysentery.”
Although the young shoots of Toona sinensis have many beneficial uses, they must be processed correctly to avoid harming the body.
Research shows that on average, every kg of Toona sinensis leaves contains over 30 mg of nitrate, and the nitrate content in older leaves can reach up to 53.9 mg/kg. Such a high nitrate level, if not processed carefully, can easily lead to poisoning for consumers.
Therefore, before cooking, it is essential to soak the young shoots in saltwater. After soaking in saltwater, they must be boiled again.
In fact, simply adding 1 tablespoon of salt to boiling water and dipping the young shoots in for about 10 seconds ensures that the flavor remains intact while also removing toxins.
After boiling, they can be prepared according to personal preference, such as making salads or mixing the young shoots with eggs and frying them, which is also delicious.
