This item
Pea Shoots
- Tender pea vine tips with paired oval leaflets and fine curling tendrils.
- Look for soft green stems, paired leaflets and delicate tendrils.
- Pea shoots have leaflets and tendrils; bean sprouts are mostly pale thick stems.
Vegetables
Pea Shoots
Tender pea vine tips with paired oval leaflets and fine curling tendrils.
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3 identity clues
- Tender pea vine tips with paired oval leaflets and fine curling tendrils.
- Look for soft green stems, paired leaflets and delicate tendrils.
- Pea shoots have leaflets and tendrils; bean sprouts are mostly pale thick stems.
Names in other languages
- 繁體中文
- 豆苗
- English
- Pea Shoots
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Tunas kacang polong (豆苗)
- Tagalog
- Talbos ng gisantes (豆苗)
Name in Cantonese (Jyutping): dau6 miu4 No Cantonese voice on this device
What is it?
Pea shoots are tender pea-vine tips with paired leaves and tendrils, unlike bean sprouts with mainly thick white stems.
How to identify it
Look for soft green stems, paired leaflets and delicate tendrils.
Common confusion
Compare
Bean Sprouts
- pale slightly curved short stems
- small seed heads at the tips
- fine roots and little developed leaf
How to identify it
Pea shoots have leaflets and tendrils; bean sprouts are mostly pale thick stems. Bean sprouts are young sprouted stems and roots from beans; pea shoots are the leaves, tender tips and tendrils of pea plants.
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 soft green stems, paired leaflets and delicate tendrils.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
唔該要豆苗，俾我睇清楚先。The employer wants Pea Shoots and asks for it to be checked before purchase.
Useful market phrase
唔該要豆苗，俾我睇清楚先。Meaning: Pea Shoots, 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