Vegetables
Spinach
Tender spinach with slender stems and smooth deep-green leaves.
- 繁體中文
- 菠菜
- English
- Spinach
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Spinach (菠菜) — bukan bayam atau amarant lokal
- Tagalog
- Spinach (菠菜) — hindi kulitis
What is it?
Spinach is a food item commonly encountered in Hong Kong homes and markets.
How to identify it
Look for thin stems and smooth oval-to-arrow-shaped leaves; do not substitute red-stemmed amaranth.
- Tender spinach with slender stems and smooth deep-green leaves.
- Look for thin stems and smooth oval-to-arrow-shaped leaves; do not substitute red-stemmed amaranth.
- Spinach has tender smooth leaves; Chinese amaranth often has stouter stems and coloured veins.
Common confusion
Spinach has tender smooth leaves; Chinese amaranth often has stouter stems and coloured veins.
Common Hong Kong household uses
Use in a recipe that specifically names this vegetable; this page identifies the market item only.
Preparation or handling
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 thin stems and smooth oval-to-arrow-shaped leaves; do not substitute red-stemmed amaranth.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
唔該要菠菜，俾我睇清楚先。The employer wants Spinach and asks for it to be checked before purchase.
Useful market phrase
唔該要菠菜，俾我睇清楚先。Does the image look correct?
Last reviewed
Sources
- 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