liuzhou

Scottish oatcakes; Irish Cheddar. Chinese beer (not shown).

40. 罗勒 (luó lè) – Sweet Basil – Ocimum basilicum Balcony Basil Native to SE Asia and parts of Central Africa, basil is actually a group of closely related plants and cultivars, the most commonly used worldwide being 罗勒 (luó lè) or “sweet basil”. Others include but are not limited to “Thai basil - Ocimum basilicum thyrsifolium” and “holy basil - Ocimum tenuiflorum ”. The only one I’ve ever encountered in China, unfortunately, is the sweet basil, and that rarely. With Vietnam just next door and Thailand only three hours away, it is very frustrating. The seeds can occasionally be found in a couple of local supermarkets. However it is not being sold for culinary reasons, but as an insect repellent! That said, I ignore that advice and grow several pots of the herb on my balcony. I also smuggled in a load of seeds from England in 2019. The only time I’ve seen it in any culinary setting or product was in these bizarre beef sausages in the supermarket! Still, they justify it being used here as a Chinese herb. I didn't buy the sausages. By the way if your basil goes to seed as you grow it, don’t worry. Leave it alone and you get these rather pretty flowers! They are also edible.

I give up. There is little taste to describe. It is all about texture. As I explained. Heidih added nothing I hadn't already said. Perhaps you should have read the whole of my post.

Sea grapes are a type of seaweed! As explained in the link.

The link goes directly to seagrapes. I just tested it again. What are you seeing?

Nothing like capers. See here.

No. I never dress it. Nor have I ever known it to stick, unless it has sat for a while and cooled right down after cooking it. I am careful to only cook it al dente.

Con fusion food tonight. An experiment. Mackerel steaks, pan fried in olive oil with fresh green Sichuan peppercorns. Thin spear asparagus, raw and dressed with litsea oil and seasalt. Orzo. The specific mackerel species is 马鲛鱼 (mǎ jiāo yú) - Japanese Spanish Mackerel - Scomberomorus niphonius. That's con fusion for you.

This is strange. Also it was very early and the light was terrible. Beans on toast with a square fried egg. As you can no doubt see, the yolk burst, but spread all to one side. Everything tasted fine, though! Especially with lots of black pepper.

They come in a plastic pouch in which the seagrapes are held in a heavy brine (seawater strength). I open this and transfer them and their water to an old Nescafé jar and keep it in the fridge. They keep well in the fridge for weeks. To use, I take out what I need, rinse them, then sit them in cold fresh water for about 10 - 15 minutes. This makes them swell a bit. Then serve.

These are very common here. From what I understand, they are used in herbal teas. They are to be found in most supermarkets, alongside the other ingredients uesd in such teas. That's not something I drink, so can't say more than that. Sorry.

That's what I'm hoping for, but I'm happy with the seeds, too.

No.

I'll be using as many as I can as they are, fresh. A lot I will give away to friends and passing enthusiasts. That 500g only cost me the equivalent of €2. I've never found any way to preserve them successfully. Like you say, apart from dried, oil is the pretty much the nearest, but it loses potency very quickly. I've tried freezing them, too. They didn't like that.

I'm numb. I'm happily numb. I'd happily go to the dentist right now and let her do her worst without benefit of anesthetic. That numb. For the second time in the last few days, I have broken my own rule about only buying herbs and spices in very small quantities, but now, as of today, I am the proud possessor of 500 grams / 18 ounces of fresh green Sichuan peppercorns. 500g vacuum-packed fresh green Sichuan peppercorns It's the only way I could source them - from a restaurant supply place in SIchuan - wholesale only. In fact, I suspect they were just humouring me allowing me to buy that much. The house smells of the wonderful little things. Neighbours passing on the stairs outside are reeling. The wildlife has all fled. Warnings are being broadcast! Helicopters are flying overhead! I only bit into one tiny corn. Had to go lie down! 500 grams fresh green Sichuan peppercorns Close-up

39. 胡芦巴 (hú lú bā) – Fenugreek – Trigonella foenum-graecum I’m posting this as an example of one of the problems I am up against. The same story applies to many spices and herbs. Fenugreek, as I’m sure everyone here will be aware is most associated with Indian cuisine. India and China have had a fractured relationship for decades – this mainly manifests itself in the ongoing border disputes played out on top of bleak, barely accessible mountain tops in the Himalayas. It frequently breaks into actual shooting at each other. It also results in there being very little chance of me sourcing ingredients associated with India. I have, for example, never seen basmati rice in any store, supermarket or market. I can but it online but it comes from Pakistan. So, the choice of spices is also limited. Fenugreek, known as methi in India, is one of my favourites, either the leaves as a herb or the seeds as a spice. But it is unavailable here – or so I thought. I was in a local traditional pharmacy yesterday (looking for something non-eG related) and spotted something I thought I recognised. Yes, turmeric seeds! And they are grown in China’s Anhui Province. It turns out they are used in TCM to cure everything except gullibility! The only problem is that I can only buy them in loads of 500 grams. So, I broke my usual rule of only ever buying spices in small amounts and grabbed a bag (it was only $2.30 USD equivalent). I have planted a few to see if they germinate, but I’m not confident. Still, I’m happy with the seeds.

It is fairly clear that these studies involve much larger dosages than is ever likely to be ingested by throwing some turmeric into your curries or whatever.

That article does not prove anything. It merely demonstrates that curcumin may do something or has the potential to do something. It uses the word may 18 times and potential 28 times, then concudes by saying it is worth investigating. That's all. It is not peer reviewed evidence.

What price? Those cost me the equivalent of $1.50 USD per can. They are often sold as loss leaders in the UK and you can pick them up for next to nothing.

Cite one that actually comes from a peer reviewed academic source.

I knew someone was going to say that. These don't have that effect on me. I have had to give up lentils, though.

This almost had me in tears of nostalgia. My London home is a few minutes walk from here and I love the place. So glad to hear it seems to be being protected from developers, as I had heard it was under threat. Wonderful food, too. Mostly vegetarian, which I'm decidedly not, but will happily eat from time to time. London's most authentic Indian food?

I'm full of beans, today! Just arrived.

Onion bhajis with mango relish. All homemade.