This item
Iceberg Lettuce
- A dense round head lettuce with crisp overlapping pale-green leaves.
- Look for a nearly spherical compact head, tightly layered leaves and a paler core.
- Iceberg is tightly headed; Chinese lettuce is an open upright bunch.
Vegetables
Iceberg Lettuce
A dense round head lettuce with crisp overlapping pale-green leaves.
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3 identity clues
- A dense round head lettuce with crisp overlapping pale-green leaves.
- Look for a nearly spherical compact head, tightly layered leaves and a paler core.
- Iceberg is tightly headed; Chinese lettuce is an open upright bunch.
Names in other languages
- 繁體中文
- 西生菜
- English
- Iceberg Lettuce
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Selada iceberg (西生菜)
- Tagalog
- Letsugas iceberg (西生菜)
Name in Cantonese (Jyutping): sai1 sang1 coi3 No Cantonese voice on this device
What is it?
Iceberg lettuce forms a firm ball of overlapping leaves with a paler centre, unlike the loose leaves of Chinese lettuce.
How to identify it
Look for a nearly spherical compact head, tightly layered leaves and a paler core.
Common confusion
Compare
Chinese Lettuce
- A loose-headed Chinese lettuce with tender green leaves and long pale-green ribs.
- Look for an upright but open head, long pale-green midribs and soft green leaf blades.
- Chinese lettuce is loose-headed; iceberg lettuce forms a dense round head.
How to identify it
Iceberg is tightly headed; Chinese lettuce is an open upright bunch.
Common Hong Kong household uses
Use in a recipe that specifically names this vegetable; this page identifies the market item only.
Choosing & preparing
Wash thoroughly under clean running water before cooking; do not use soap, special detergent or produce wash.
Storage
Wash only immediately before cooking or eating; if pre-washing is necessary, dry thoroughly and follow the label or supplier storage directions.
Helper tip
Use the Hong Kong name and check the physical features or original label when buying. Look for a nearly spherical compact head, tightly layered leaves and a paler core.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
唔該要西生菜，俾我睇清楚先。The employer wants Iceberg Lettuce and asks for it to be checked before purchase.
Useful market phrase
唔該要西生菜，俾我睇清楚先。Meaning: Iceberg Lettuce, please. Let me look at it carefully first.
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Sources (5)
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Public Market Items - Leafy Vegetables
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Leafy vegetables Cantonese pinyin
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Public Market Items Multilingual Booklet
- Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety — Pesticide Residues in Food - Frequently Asked Questions
- Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety — Safe and Fresh: Practical Tips for Storing Vegetables