Wild-growing vegetable that is easy to cultivate, a delicacy in the North: plant once, harvest all year round, nutritious and delicious
Ngũ Gia Bì Hương, a shrub native to forest areas, was introduced by highland residents as a fence to protect their vegetable gardens and fruit trees from livestock.
This plant is commonly found in several northern provinces of Vietnam, including Tuyen Quang (formerly Ha Giang), Lao Cai, Phu Tho, and Son La.
In recent years, with its increasing popularity as a vegetable, farmers have started cultivating this plant to supply its tender shoots and young leaves to restaurants and local markets.
Growing this vegetable is uncomplicated and requires minimal care. It can be easily propagated through cuttings, and the harvest is year-round, focusing on plucking the tender shoots.
During the season, especially on rainy days, the shoots and young leaves of the Ngũ Gia Bì Hương grow abundantly. Locals seize this opportunity to harvest and sell them, earning additional income.
Although the plant has sharp thorns, its tender shoots are crisp and soft, making it a unique and healthy vegetable option. It can be consumed raw, cooked in hot pot, stir-fried, or made into soup, with the most popular dish being stir-fried with eggs.
Preparing this vegetable is straightforward, involving only the selection of tender shoots, approximately 5-7cm in length, followed by a thorough cleaning process before cooking.
Ngũ Gia Bì Hương has an intriguing flavor profile. When consumed raw, it has a bitter taste, but when cooked, the bitterness subdues, giving way to a subtle natural sweetness and a distinctive aroma.
Health Benefits of Ngũ Gia Bì Hương
According to the book “Medicinal Plants and Animals in Vietnam”, this vegetable has a pungent and bitter taste, a warm nature, and is effective in dispelling wind dampness, strengthening bones and tendons, and nourishing the liver and kidneys.
Ngũ Gia Bì Hương is in high demand and fetches a stable price. Sometimes, families cannot keep up with the demand from restaurants and tourists.
In addition to being a vegetable, Ngũ Gia Bì Hương can also be used to make herbal tea, which I plan to explore further to increase my income.
Research has revealed that this plant belongs to the same family as ginseng and possesses valuable medicinal properties. Its bark and young shoots contain saponins, which are beneficial to health.
Ngũ Gia Bì Hương boasts strong antioxidant, anti-aging, and energizing properties. It serves as a health tonic, enhancing memory and treating stomach ailments and rheumatism. Some compounds in this plant also exhibit anti-cancer and antiviral properties. The young shoots are edible, while the older leaves and branches can be boiled for a nutritious drink.
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