PRODUCT INFO Banana leaves are large, wide, elongated, and slightly rounded, averaging two meters in length, a half a meter in width, and 8-12 leaves per tree. The surface of the leaves are waxy, flexible, and glossy, and range in color from lime, olive green, to dark green. There is a central midrib that runs the length of the leaf and two laminas, or leaf halves are found on either side of the midrib. The leaves do not have branching veins, and this makes them vulnerable to tearing easily. Banana plants also have a pseudostem, which is a false stem that looks like a trunk but is multiple fleshy leaf sheaths that are tightly overlapped. Banana leaves have a grassy and sweet, green flavor. USES In addition to culinary uses, Banana leaves have also been used in the Buddhist and Hindu religion as decorations and as bowls, plates, and offerings in special religious celebrations such as marriage ceremonies. They are also used in India and the Philippines to construct fences and thatched roofs and have even been used as umbrellas. SEASONS Banana leaves are available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Cha plu leaves are another ingredient we are lucky to have available to us at Southeast Asian markets. It is a mild flavored leaf that is well-suited for making wraps, as it is generally enjoyed in Thailand and in Laos where it is known as cha plu leaf.Many mistake this for another leaf used by many in South and Southeast Asia to wrap the areca nut and called "betel leaf" are used as a wrapper in the dish 'Mieng Kham'. This is a traditional Thai dish, containing an assortment of fillings, like peanuts, shrimps, shallots with lime and raw ginger. Bai Cha Plu has been seen all over Asia, from South to the East. Similar to the Thai Betel edible leaf, but not as bitter. If you are making Mieng, substitute any mild flavour leaf for Fish Mint. Real Thai Recipes suggests to replace either the lettuce or Chinese Broccoli. Thai Bai Plu Cha is also shredded up as one of the vegetables in a Thai rice dish �¢??Kao Yum�¢??. Alternatively, for an Asian twist on a traditional English dish, use this leaf for meals like soups and salads. USES The leaves are used to wrap up as a snack, known as "Miang Kham" and are commonly used as vegetables in curry. (local food in the north) has properties as an expectorant, expels wind and helps moisten the throat. SEASON Chaplu leaves are available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Native to the Mediterranean region and cultivated over three thousand years, celery is a biennial, herbaceous plant of the Umbelliferae, botanically named Apium graveolens. A member of the carrot family and related to anise, parsley and parsnips, celery was first recorded as a food plant in France in 1623. Baby celery is hydroponically grown, with long, thin stalks and mature, full leaves. Similar in size to cilantro or parsley, baby celery has an intense celery flavor that is much stronger than that mature celery heads. The strong celery flavor is concentrated in the leaves, though the entire plant is edible. USES Baby celery is not typically used as a substitute for mature celery because the stalks are small and thin. Use celery leaves in pestos, sauces, soups, salads or as an herb. Pair with carrots, mushrooms, asian vegetables, citrus, tomatoes, garlic and onion. Baby celery stalks may be used as an aromatic or chopped and combined with the leaves in cooked preparations. Refrigerate baby celery, keeping dry and well wrapped until ready to use. Season Hydroponically grown baby celery is harvested year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Coconut shoots are one of the most useful things. They also contain less fat and energy. Therefore, it is popular to make a menu of coconut shoots for weight loss. Because it has a sweet, crispy, delicious taste, plus it helps to lose weight well, not allergic to spinach for weight loss. USES If eating in each meal will have a special to eat deliciously, we would like to suggest a menu that includes coconut shoots with a delicious taste when used as an ingredient in curry, and then adds more crunch to the crunch. excellent food The more you chew, the more crunchy it becomes, and the more it makes people eat it without getting bored. The menu that we will recommend is a variety of styles of coconut shoots that are put into each menu. Because the taste is different, but even if it's different, there is a perfect balance that is not normal at all. The young coconut shoots are stir-fried with spicy flavor, adding more flavor to the coconut shoots that are so delicious that you can't stop eating them. With the colorful curry paste and the spicy flavor of the curry paste, when the coconut shoots are mixed together, it's perfect. SEASONS Coconut shoot is available year-round.
Kaffir lime leaves are small to medium in size and oblong in shape, averaging 3-5 centimeters in diameter and 8-12 centimeters in length. The top of the thick leaves is glossy and deep green, while the underside of the leaves is porous and a pale, matte green. Kaffir lime leaves grow in pairs and grow in a double leaf formation, which means two leaves grow on either side of the stem and appear to mirror each other. There is a prominent central midrib or vein and the tips of the leaves can be slightly rounded or very pointed. Kaffir lime leaves have a strong citrus taste and aroma that is said to be a blend of mandarin orange, lemon, and lime. PRODUCT INFO Kaffir lime leaves, botanically classified as Citrus hystrix, grow on a thorny bush that can grow to be 1-10 meters in height and belong to the Rutaceae, or citrus family along with oranges, lemons, pomelos, and grapefruit. The kaffir lime plant is valued for its fragrant leaves and its fruit's peel and is popularly used in culinary and medicinal applications in Southeast Asia. Also known as the Kieffer lime, Bai Magrood, Thai lime, Limau Puru, and Makrut limes, Kaffir limes have been given new names in various cultures to respect and avoid the use of derogatory words. In South Africa, kaffir is an offensive slang word used in racist connotations, so many retailers have taken to calling the fruit by its scientific name, while others prefer the Thai word for the fruit, Makrut lime. USES Kaffir lime leaves can be used in both raw and cooked preparations such as boiling, steaming. They can be used fresh, dried, or from a frozen state and the thick leaves are never consumed whole, but rather steeped and later removed, or sliced very thinly. Kaffir lime leaves can be sliced and used in salads or shredded and used in fish cakes. They are also widely used in soups such as tom yum and hot and sour shrimp, curries, fried rice, pastes, and stir-fries. Their herbal citrus flavor can be used to infuse desserts such as custard and ice cream. Kaffir lime leaves pair well with lemongrass, basil, cardamom, curry leaves, mint, tamarind, turmeric, cumin, galangal, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, jasmine rice, meats such as lamb, chicken and pork, mussels, and coconut milk. They will keep up to two weeks when stored fresh in the refrigerator and up to one year when stored in a sealed container in the freezer. Season Kaffir lime leaves are available year-round.
Ginger is frequently used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine as a warming element to reduce symptoms associated with nausea, indigestion, and muscle pain. The rhizome can be used fresh or dried and is also pressed into an essential oil for topical use. Ginger is made into an herbal tea in the Philippines called salabat, which is consumed to relieve nausea and to ward off flu and colds. Dried Split Ginger can be kept up to 24 months from manufactured date under good condition.
PRODUCT INFO Galangal rhizomes widely vary in size and shape and have a cylindrical, branched appearance with many shoots and bulbous knobs. The semi-smooth skin is light brown to tan, firm, hard, and is covered in darker brown rings. Underneath the woody skin, the flesh is pale yellow to ivory and is fibrous, dense, and aqueous with a spicy, floral aroma. Galangal is crisp and has a pungent, earthy, woodsy, and mustard-like flavor with subtle citrus undertones. USES Galangal, botanically classified as Alpinia officinarum, is the underground rhizome of a tropical shrub that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. Also known as Siamese ginger and Thai ginger, there are two main species of Galangal known as Greater Galangal and Lesser Galangal, varying in size, shape, and taste, but both species are used to flavor culinary dishes. Galangal has been utilized for its medicinal properties in Asia for thousands of years and is predominately used today to flavor Southeast Asian cuisine. Galangal adds a warm, sweet, and pungent flavor to dishes, similar to ginger but stronger in flavor, and can be found in fresh, dried, and powdered form. SEASONS Galangal is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Finger Root, also known as Chinese ginger, Chinese key, Chinese-keys is the low herb which creeps in soil. It has rhizomes which is thick, aromatic and yellow brown of size 5-30 x 0.5-2 cm in size. The petiole of the plant is hairless, grooved and 7-16 cm long. Leaves are lanceolate and erect in shape with pointed tip and smooth surface. The leaves have light green color of 5-11 cm wide. The flowers are pink to yellow to white which is tubular and 50-52 mm. It grows in lowland tropical regions. The flowering time occurs in January to February and April to June. It grows well in humid and hot climate. Fingerroot is native to Southeast Asia and China but also cultivated in India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. USES Finger Root is a medicinal as well as culinary herb also called Chinese ginger that is native to China and Southeast Asia. As the shape of rhizome resembles fingers, it has got named as fingerroot. It is known as krachai in Thai. This plant belongs to Zingiberaceae family. This plant is either perennial or biennial that has tall leaves and pink to purple flowers. SEASONS Finger root is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Chinese Chive Leaves present a straw-like stem. It is tubular, have onion taste and a subtle taste of garlic, hollow and dark green with pointy end. Each stem can grow up to 20 inches (half a meter). Moreover, such stems are of a lighter green than its onion counterpart. The flowers are really small and altogether creates a spherical bunch at the top. Each tiny flower has 6 petals, and it is pink/purple. USES You'll mainly use the leaves of your Chinese chives, but if you don't cut too much, the plants will produce edible flowers too. Since they're perennial, you'll get harvests for years to come. Eat the leaves fresh, or add them to your cooking for a light garlic flavour. The clump-forming plants are quite attractive, so this perennial will look good in your flower garden too! And unlike many other edibles. SEASON Chinese Chive are available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO The Asiatic pennywort is a sleek, herbaceous plant. It is widespread throughout tropical and subtropical countries worldwide - Madagascar, Vietnam, India, China and Africa. It prefers wet to marshy sites, up to an altitude of 700 meters. In Thailand a refreshing drink is made from the slightly bitter tasting leaves and stems the juice is diluted with water and some sugar can be added. Mostly the whole plant is eaten as a vegetable, cooked or raw, with Jeo or Paa Dek. Phak Nok has multiple medicinal applications, being used to treat fever and constipation, to purify the blood, and to cure nervous conditions. USES The plant's leaves are used against skin complaints and it has a considerable reputation for treating ulcers, eczema, hepatitis, cancer and leprosy. Phak Nok is said to be 'good for the eyes' and for hair growth and is also used psychologically to treat epilepsy, senility and the mentally retarded. SEASONS Asiatic pennywort is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Chinese chives flower (Dok-Kui-Chai) is a biennial plant. in the same circle as the onion There is a rhizome underground. The rhizome is small and clumping, looks round, the stem is wrapped. With the surrounding leaf sheaths are green, the leaves are single, arranged alternately, the leaves look like garlic leaves. long flat leaves with parallel edges The base of the leaves is covered with interlacing interlaces. At the base of the stem, it is green with a spicy taste. strong odor bouquet looks like an umbrella round and then bloom There are small flowers on the stem. The flower stalks are long, round and stump. The petals are white, fragrant, the stem is green. has a sweet, crispy taste bring to cook There are many different menus. Thailand has many varieties planted. USES Help nourish milk Helps to treat gonorrhea, helps to nourish sex, helps to nourish the kidneys, helps to treat hives helps maintain bones help prevent cancer Help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. help prevent diabetes help treat diabetes Help cure tuberculosis, cure colds, help cure otitis media. Helps to cure nosebleeds, cure vomiting, cure diarrhea, cure flatulence, cure indigestion, help drive parasites, help heal hemorrhoids, cure gallstones, help cure urinary congestion, help disinfect, cure poisonous insect bites. help heal purulent wounds Helps heal black and green bruises, relieve pain, heal inflamed wounds, help build red blood cells Helps reduce intestinal inflammation Help prevent colon cancer. SEASONS Chinese chives flower is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Betel Leaves are medium to large in size and oblong to heart-shaped, averaging 7-15 centimeters in length and 5-11 centimeters in width. The dark green leaves are flat, broad, and pliable and have a smooth, but slightly leathery texture. There is also a central vein the runs the length of the leaf with many smaller veins branching throughout. Each Betel Leaves tapers to a point on the non-stem end and grows on climbing vines. Betel Leaves are chewy and have a sharp, tangy, and peppery taste.Betel Leaves are used primarily for their medicinal properties and as wrappings for other ingredients. They are most commonly used as a wrapper for the areca nut or tobacco and when chewed they impart a peppery flavor. The leaf is also chewed along with other barks and leaves such as sweetened coconut, lime, cardamom, anise seeds, licorice, and fruit preserves. USES Betel Leaves can also be found as a street snack with chocolate syrup poured over them or used as an edible garnish for other dishes. Paan leaves pair well with dried shrimp, coconut, mint, garlic, ginger, chiles, carrots, peanuts, chocolate, and lime. Betel Leaves will keep up to three days when unwashed and stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. SEASONS Betel Leaves are available year-round.
Turmeric is the rhizome, or root stem, of a tropical blade-leafed plant. The rhizome has an abstract finger-like shape with a rough skin marked with knobs and rings. Turmeric rhizomes often grow up to 3-4 inches long and one-half to one inch in diameter. Its skin's color is a combination of pale earth and orange. The flesh is a vibrant carrot orange color and its flavor warm and peppery with very distinct bitter undertones. It is most often boiled and then dried for powdered form, in which it turns its trademark color. PRODUCT INFO Turmeric, scientifically known as Curcuma longa, is a tropical flowering perennial that falls within the same family as ginger and is one of two rhizomes with an appearance similar to the spicy root. It's cultivated and harvested for its roots, though its leaves are also used in some cultures. USES Fresh Turmeric's gentle carrot/ginger-like flavor lends itself well to both sweet and savory applications. It adds freshness to curries and soups, and can be pickled or fried. Its vibrant color is a wonderful addition to any dish, but can also stain clothing and porous surfaces. SEASON Turmeric is available year-round
PRODUCT INFO Cha-om, a tropical member of the acacia family (Acacia pennata) native to mainland Southeast Asia, is a well-loved herby vegetable among Thais, Cambodians and Laotians. The parts that are eaten are the ferny young leaf shoots and tender tips before the stems turn tough and thorny. It has a particular fragrance that may seem unpleasant at first to the unaccustomed, but when it's cooked up, it's so tasty that most people can't stop eating it and the aroma is just part of the package and soon becomes quite likable. USES The most common way cha-om is cooked is with beaten eggs, like in an omelette, which is then cut into squares or rectangles to serve with pungent nahm prik (hot chilli sauces, usually with fermented shrimp paste - nahm prik kapi in Thai) and fried fish (usually Asian mackerel, or pla too). SEASONS Cha-om is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Pandan leaves are medium to large in size and are elongated, narrow, and oblong in shape. There are two distinct Pandan plant shapes. If the plant is left undisturbed and the leaves are not harvested, it will develop into a small tree with large, long, and thin green leaves that can reach up to two meters in length. If the leaves are continuously harvested, the plant will stay low to the ground forming a shrub-like appearance with smaller, narrow green leaves growing up to one meter in length. The upright green leaves taper to a point at the tip, and when attached to their stems, Pandan leaves resemble the top of a pineapple plant. Pandan leaves have a unique and distinct grassy aroma when first crushed that mellows out to a subtle, herbal, and floral aroma. When cooked, Pandan leaves have a nutty, almond, rose-like, and slightly sweet flavor. Pandan leaves are rich in essential oils, glycosides, and alkaloids, and also contain traces of tannin and isoprene esters. They are traditionally used to reduce symptoms of pain and fevers and are used as a laxative. USES Pandan leaves are best suited for cooked applications such as boiling, steaming, sauteing and frying. They are used in both sweet and savory dishes and are boiled, pounded, bruised, or raked to bring out the flavor. Pandan leaves are often used to wrap meats or sticky rice and are cooked to add a sweet and nutty flavor. They are also wrapped and deep fried to create a crunchy exterior. In addition to savory preparations, Pandan leaves are also used to make desserts and drinks. They can be made into a paste with the juice extracted to make the well-known chiffon cake, and they can be cooked to make Kaya, or pandan-flavored coconut egg jam, which is a traditional Pandan dish still found today in Malaysia and Singapore. Pandan leaves can also be cooked with coconut to make nasi lemak rice or are tied into knots and used for flavoring. Pandan leaves pair well with turmeric, lemongrass, brown sugar, milk, meats such as fish, chicken, beef, and pork, and rice. They will keep for a couple of days when stored unwashed, wrapped in a damp paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Pandan leaves can also be frozen for up to two months. SEASON Pandan leaves are available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO ative to the Mediterranean region and cultivated over three thousand years, celery is a biennial, herbaceous plant of the Umbelliferae, botanically named Apium graveolens. A member of the carrot family and related to anise, parsley and parsnips, celery was first recorded as a food plant in France in 1623. Thai celery is hydroponically grown, with long, thin stalks and mature, full leaves. Similar in size to cilantro or parsley, baby celery has an intense celery flavor that is much stronger than that mature celery heads. The strong celery flavor is concentrated in the leaves, though the entire plant is edible. USES Thai celery is not typically used as a substitute for mature celery because the stalks are small and thin. Use celery leaves in pestos, sauces, soups, salads or as an herb. Pair with carrots, mushrooms, asian vegetables, citrus, tomatoes, garlic and onion. Baby celery stalks may be used as an aromatic or chopped and combined with the leaves in cooked preparations. Refrigerate baby celery, keeping dry and well wrapped until ready to use. Season Hydroponically grown baby celery is harvested year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, oily heads or fever grass, is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family. Some species (particularly Cymbopogon citratus) are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons (Citrus limon). The name cymbopogon derives from the Greek words kymbe (�º�?�¼�²�·, 'boat') and pogon (�?�?�³�?�½, 'beard') "which mean [that] in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes. USES If using fresh lemongrass, use only the lower bulbous portion of the stem. It can be pounded and used whole or cut in slices. When using the ground powder (sereh) use one teaspoon as an equal to one stalk of fresh. It is advisable to soak dried sliced lemon grass for two hours before using. When wrapped in a paper bag, lemon grass stems can last 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. The stems can also be frozen for several months. Always wrap and store separately, as lemon grass will impart its flavour to other foods. SEASON Lemongrass is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Holy, or Sacred basil, is a stiff, leafy, perennial herb. The plant can reach up to 18 inches in height, and develops small pink, fragrant blossoms when mature. With thicker stems, ranging in color from green to a dark purple, Holy basil has a bushy appearance and can grow quite large. Holy basil's narrow, oval leaves range from a light green to deep purple color and are very aromatic. The taste does vary between types, however, it is often likened to cloves (anise) or licorice with a hint of mint and a bit of peppery spice. The pungent pink flowers are also edible. USES Holy basil in Thailand, it is a very popular culinary ingredient. Holy basil is an important ingredient in one of the more famous Thai street dishes, chicken with Holy basil or 'gai pad grapow'. In many Thai stir fry dishes, Holy basil is used as an aromatic with garlic, fish sauce and chilies to impart flavor into meat, fish, or chicken. Holy basil is best used fresh, as its leaves cannot maintain their aroma after a few days in the refrigerator. SEASONS Holy basil is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO The most popular and widely used culinary herb. It is a tender annual, aromatic plant with a spicy odor and flavor. It grows 12-18 inches tall and foliage color can range from green to purple. Foliage size can vary from large lettuce-like leaves to very small leaves, half inch in size. USES Sweet Basil picked for use in the kitchen is best held in a glass of water at room temperature. Putting basil in the refrigerator results in discolored and unattractive leaves. Basil is easily dried for storing and future use. It is used to flavor soups, stews, tomato dishes, meat, game, fish, egg dishes, herb butters and herb vinegars. SEASON Sweet Basil is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Hairy Basil leaves are small to medium in size, averaging five centimeters in length, and have an elliptical to elongated, oval shape tapering to a distinct point on the non-stem end. The leaves are smooth, flat, and green, containing some veining across the surface with lightly serrated edges. The leaves also grow in pairs on either side of the square, fuzzy stalks, and have a crisp and succulent consistency with a sweet, citrus-forward aroma. Hairy Basil has a unique herbal, sweet, and tangy flavor with notes of lemon mixed with anise. In the late summer, the plants also produce lemon-scented, small white flowers that bloom on long, light green bracts. SEASONS Hairy Basil is available year-round.
