Vegetables

Broccoli

A vegetable with dense green flower buds on a thick branching stalk, commonly sold as a whole crown.

繁體中文: 西蘭花
English: Broccoli
Bahasa Indonesia: Brokoli
Tagalog: Broccoli

What is it?

Broccoli is a common Hong Kong market vegetable. This guide follows FEHD’s 西蘭花 / Broccoli naming.

How to identify it

Look for many tight green buds forming a compact crown above a thick stalk that divides into branches. Green colour alone is not enough.

Dense tiny buds forming a rounded crown
Thick central stalk with upper branches
Each separated floret has a short stem and bud crown

Common confusion

Cauliflower / Chinese Kale (Gai Lan)

Broccoli has tight green buds on thick branching stalks; cauliflower usually has a pale compact curd; Chinese kale is identified mainly by thick stems and dark leafy blades rather than a branching bud head.

Common Hong Kong household uses

Commonly stir-fried, blanched, steamed, baked or added to soup and mixed dishes.

Preparation or handling

Trim the dry base, divide the crown into similar-sized florets, rinse between the buds and around the stalk, then drain.

Storage

Keep dry and refrigerated and use soon. Do not use it if the buds are badly yellowed, slimy or strongly off-smelling.

Helper tip

Check the dense buds and thick branching stalk. Cauliflower usually has a pale compact curd.

What Ma’am or Sir may say

買一個西蘭花，返嚟切細朵。

The employer wants one broccoli crown, divided into small florets at home.

Useful market phrase

唔該要一個花蕾實淨嘅西蘭花。

Does the image look correct?

Last reviewed

2026-08-24