Chinese Yellow Cucumbers
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Chinese yellow cucumbers are oval-shaped vegetables that grow to about 25 centimeters in length. They change color as they mature, starting green when young, then developing a golden yellow, variegated pattern as they mature. Their skin is thin, soft, and tender but develops faint darker spots across its surface, giving the vegetable a slightly rough texture. Chinese yellow cucumbers have a light green, succulent flesh that contains multiple slippery white seeds surrounded by a thin, gelatinous coating. They have a crisp texture and mild, sweet flavor with hints of lemon and apple.
Seasons/Availability
Chinese yellow cucumbers are available in the summer.
Current Facts
Chinese yellow cucumbers are botanically classified as Cucumis sativus and are from the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes gourds, melons, pumpkins, and squash. They are an heirloom variety from China that has a more mellow flavor than their green counterparts. They grow on prolific, vigorous vines that produce hundreds of cucumbers from just a few plants. Chinese yellow cucumbers should be picked and used when they are young and tender, just as they are turning yellow. This prevents their seeds and skin from becoming too tough to eat.
Nutritional Value
Chinese yellow cucumbers contain vitamins A and C that encourage immune function, antioxidant protection, collagen production, iron absorption, and eye, skin, and reproductive health. They are a source of potassium, helping prevent high blood pressure and supporting fluid balance, muscle and kidney function, electrolyte balance, and bone and heart health. These cucumbers provide fiber to aid in digestion, blood sugar control, nutrient absorption, and lower cholesterol levels. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, yellow cucumbers are considered to be a yin food that helps cool the body, nourish its fluids, and promote hydration. They are eaten on hot summer days in China for their refreshing properties.
Applications
Chinese yellow cucumbers may be used raw in salads and poke bowls or cooked into soups, stir-fries, and rice dishes. They may also be selected as a pickling cucumber. Since their skin isn't bitter, it's not necessary to remove before eating. Chinese yellow cucumbers can be incorporated into a Sichuan-style smashed cucumber salad known as pai huang gua, which features cucumbers dressed with sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, chiles, and Sichuan peppers. They can be used in sandwiches and crudité plates and pair well with other vegetables like snap peas, tomatoes, green peppers, lettuce, kale, celery, turnips, carrots, and onions. Chinese yellow cucumbers should be stored in a bag in the refrigerator, where they will last about 3 days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Cucumbers are the second most-produced vegetable in China behind Chinese cabbage. They are especially valued in Northern China, where they are consumed extensively during the summer. China is the world’s largest producer of cucumbers, cultivating 300 million grams each year. They have been growing cucumbers for over 2,000 years and many hybrid varieties have been developed there, particularly since the mid-1900s. Advancements in hybrid breeding programs have enabled the development of new cultivars derived from Chinese yellow cucumbers, featuring higher yields and enhanced disease resistance.
Geography/History
The cucumber species is native to India. It spread to ancient Greece and Rome before arriving in China around the 5th century BCE. They grow in warm to hot climates with plentiful water and temperatures between 15 and 32 degrees Celcius. As a cultivated variety that's developed over centuries, Chinese yellow cucumbers are not often found in the wild but are grown in home gardens or produced on a small commercial scale. Chinese yellow cucumbers are an heirloom variety that may have been developed sometime during the Han Dynasty when they were first incorporated into Chinese cuisine. Despite being popular in certain areas of China, this variety is fairly rare and not often seen outside of this country unless purchased from seed and grown in home gardens.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Chinese Yellow Cucumbers. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Cluster Cookery |
|
Yellow Chinese Cucumber Soup |
