Vegetables
Bean Sprouts
Bean Sprouts is the market group for edible sprouted beans, with pale short stems, seed heads and fine roots; the bean species is label-led.
- 繁體中文
- 芽菜
- English
- Bean Sprouts
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Tauge
- Tagalog
- Toge
What is it?
Bean Sprouts is the market group for edible sprouted beans, with pale short stems, seed heads and fine roots; the bean species is label-led. This page follows the authoritative HK-market name and identification scope.
How to identify it
Look for many pale curved short stems, small seed heads and fine roots with little leaf growth; appearance does not prove mung or soy.
- pale slightly curved short stems
- small seed heads at the tips
- fine roots and little developed leaf
Common confusion
Pea shoots are leafy young tips with tendrils; bean sprouts are mainly pale stems, seed heads and fine roots.
Common Hong Kong household uses
Use Bean Sprouts only where the recipe names it, following the stated amount and cooking method.
Preparation or handling
Wash thoroughly under clean running water immediately before preparation; CFS does not recommend soap or produce wash.
Storage
Follow CFS vegetable-storage guidance and purchase directions; if washed before storage, dry thoroughly first.
Helper tip
Pea shoots are leafy young tips with tendrils; bean sprouts are mainly pale stems, seed heads and fine roots.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
買芽菜。The employer is asking you to buy Bean Sprouts; check the market sign or original package.
Useful market phrase
我想買芽菜。Does the image look correct?
Last reviewed
Sources
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Public Market Items Multilingual Booklet
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Public Market Items - Other Foods
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Other foods Cantonese pinyin
- Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety — Safe and Fresh: Practical Tips for Storing Vegetables
- Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety — Pesticide Residues in Food - Frequently Asked Questions