- Part Three: Ingredients in A Tradition of Soup: Flavors from China's Pearl River Delta by Teresa M. Chen, Martin Yan (North Atlantic Books, 2009)
| English | Scientific | Chinese (Trad/Simp) | Mandarin Pīnyīn | Jyutping Cantonese | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| almond | Prunus dulcis | 杏仁 | xìng rén | hang6 jan4 | Popularly served in sweet soup as a hot dessert. |
| azuki bean | Vigna angularis | 紅豆/红豆 | hóng dòu | hung4 dau2 | "red bean" |
| bamboo fungus | Phallus indusiatus | 竹笙 | zhú shēng | zuk1 sang1 | a.k.a. bamboo pith |
| bamboo shoot | Phyllostachys edulis, Phyllostachys bambusoides, Dendrocalamus latiflorus, Bambusa oldhamii, Bambusa odashimae | 竹筍尖/竹笋尖; 筍/笋 | zhú sǔn jiān; sǔn | zuk1 seon2 zim1; seon2 | |
| bitter melon | Momordica charantia | 苦瓜 | kǔ guā | fu2 gwaa1 | "bitter melon" |
| black eyed pea | Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata | 黑眼豆 | hēi yǎn dòu | hak1 ngaan5 dau2 | "bitter melon" |
| bok choy / Chinese cabbage, chinensis variety | Brassica rapa, subspecies chinensis | 白菜; 小白菜 | bái cài; xiǎo bái cài | baak6 coi3; siu2 baak6 coi3 | "white vegetable"; "small white vegetable" |
| broad bean / fava bean | Vicia faba | 胡豆; 蠶豆 | hú dòu; cán dòu | wu4 dau2; caam4 dau2 | |
| broccoli | Brassica oleracea var. Italica | 西蘭花/西兰花 | xī lán huā | sai1 laan4 faa1 | |
| burdock, greater | Arctium lappa | 牛蒡 | niú bàng | ngau4 bong2 | Burdock root is used to make herbal soup in traditional Chinese medicine |
| cabbage | Brassica oleracea var. Capitata | 椰菜 | yē cài | je4 coi3 | |
| carrot | Daucus carota | 紅蘿蔔/红萝卜 | hóng luó bo | hung4 lo4 baak6 | "red radish" |
| cauliflower | Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis | 椰菜花 | yē cài huā | je4 coi3 faa1 | |
| cassia bark / Chinese cinnamon | Cinnamomum aromaticum | 肉桂 | ròu gùi | juk6 gwai3 | |
| chestnut, Chinese | Castanea mollissima | 栗子 | lì zi | leot6 zi2 | |
| chilli, dried red | Capsicum frutescens | 辣椒 | là jiāo | laat6 ziu1 | |
| Chinese broccoli / gai lan | Brassica oleracea var. Alboglabra | 芥蘭/芥兰 | jiè lán | gaai3 laan2 | "mustard orchid" |
| Chinese cabbage, chinensis variety / bok choy | Brassica rapa, subspecies chinensis | 白菜; 小白菜 | bái cài; xiǎo bái cài | baak6 coi3; siu2 baak6 coi3 | "white vegetable"; "small white vegetable" |
| Chinese cabbage, pekinensis variety / napa cabbage | Brassica rapa, subspecies pekinensis | 大白菜; 黃芽白 | dà bái cài; huáng yá bái | daai6 baak6 coi3; wong4 ngaa4 baak6 | "large white vegetable"; "yellow sprout white" |
| Chinese chives / garlic chives | Allium tuberosum | 韮菜 | jiǔ cài | gau2 coi3 | |
| Chinese cinnamon / cassia bark | Cinnamomum aromaticum | 肉桂 | ròu gùi | juk6 gwai3 | |
| Chinese lettuce | Lactuca sativa var. asparagina | 油麥菜/油麦菜 | yóu mài cài | yau4 mak6 coi3 | |
| choko / chayote | Sechium edule | 合掌瓜 | hé zhǎng guā | hap6 zoeng2 gwaa1 | "join palm melon" |
| choy sum / flowering Chinese cabbage | Brassica rapa, subspecies parachinensis | 菜心 | cài xīn | coi3 sam1 | "vegetable heart" |
| coriander | Coriandrum sativum | 芫荽 | yán sui | jyun4 seoi1 | |
| corn | Zea mays | 玉米; 粟米 (Cantonese) | yù mǐ; sù mǐ | juk6 mai5; suk1 mai5 | |
| cornflour / corn starch | 玉米粉; 生粉 (Cantonese) | yù mǐ fěn; shēng fěn | juk6 mai5 fan2; sang1 fan2 | ||
| chrysanthemum flower | Chrysanthemum morifolium | 菊花 | jú huā | guk1 faa1 | Infused in boiling water to make chrysanthemum tea. |
| cucumber | Cucumis sativus | 黃瓜; 青瓜 | huáng guā; qīng guā | wong4 gwaa1; ceng1 gwaa1 | "yellow melon"; "green melon" |
| daylily, orange / golden needle | Hemerocallis fulva | 金針/金针 | jīn zhēn | gam1 zam1 | "gold needle" |
| egg, century | 皮蛋 | pi dàn | pei4 daan2 | "leather/skin egg" | |
| egg, chicken | 雞蛋/鸡蛋 | jī dàn | gai1 daan2 | ||
| egg, duck | 鴨蛋/鸭蛋 | yā dàn | ngaap3 daan2 | ||
| egg, quail | 鵪鶉蛋/鹌鹑蛋 | ān chún dàn | am1 seon4 daan2 | ||
| egg, salted | 鹹蛋/咸蛋 | xián dàn | haam4 daan2 | ||
| egg, tea | 茶葉蛋/茶叶蛋 | chá yè dàn | caa4 jip6 daan2 | "tea leaf egg" | |
| fat choy / black moss / hair weed | Nostoc flagelliforme | 髮菜/发菜 | fà cài | faat3 coi3 | "hair vegetable" |
| fava bean / broad bean | Vicia faba | 胡豆; 蠶豆 | hú dòu; cán dòu | wu4 dau2; caam4 dau2 | |
| five spice powder | 五香粉 | wǔ xiāng fěn | ng5 hoeung1 fan2 | Typical spices are star anise, cassia, cloves, ground fennel seeds, and Sichuan peppercorns. Ginger and cardamom may also be used. | |
| fungus, black / cloud ear | Auricularia polytricha | 雲耳/云耳; 毛木耳; 木耳 | yún ěr; máo mù ěr; mù ěr | wan4 ji5; mou4 muk6 ji5; muk6 ji5 | "cloud ear"; "hairy wood ear"; "wood ear/tree ear" |
| fungus, Jew's ear / jelly ear | Auricularia auricula-judae | 木耳 | mù ěr | muk6 ji5 | wood ear/tree ear |
| fungus, snow | Tremella fuciformis | 銀耳/银耳; 雪耳; 白木耳 | yín ěr; xuě ěr; bái mù ěr | ngan4 ji5; syut3 ji5; baak6 muk6 ji5 | "silver ear"; "snow ear"; "white wood ear" |
| gai choy / mustard greens | Brassica juncea | 芥菜 | jiè cài | gaai3 coi3 | |
| gai lan / Chinese broccoli | Brassica oleracea var. Alboglabra | 芥蘭/芥兰 | jiè lán | gaai3 laan2 | "mustard orchid" |
| Garland crysanthemum / tongho | Chrysanthemum coronarium var. spatisum | 茼蒿 | tóng hāo | tong4 hou1 | |
| garlic | Allium sativum | 蒜 | suàn | syun3 | |
| garlic chives / Chinese chives | Allium tuberosum | 韮菜 | jiǔ cài | gau2 coi3 | |
| ginger | Zingiber officinale | 薑 | jiāng | goeng1 | |
| ginkgo | Ginkgo biloba | 銀杏/银杏; 白果 | yín xìng; bái guǒ | ngan4 hang6; baak6 gwo2 | "silver apricot"; "white fruit" |
| goji berry / wolfberry | Lycium chinense and Lycium barbarum | 枸杞 | gǒu qǐ | gau2 gei2 | |
| golden needle / daylily, orange | Hemerocallis fulva | 金針/金针 | jīn zhēn | gam1 zam1 | "gold needle" |
| green bean | Phaseolus vulgaris | 四季豆 | sì jì dòu | sei3 gwai3 dau2 | "four season bean" |
| hair weed / fat choy / black moss | Nostoc flagelliforme | 髮菜/发菜 | fà cài | faat3 coi3 | "hair vegetable" |
| hairy melon | Benincasa hispida var. chiehqua | 毛瓜; 節瓜/节瓜 (Cantonese) | máo guā; jié guā | mou4 gwaa1; zit3 gwaa1 | |
| Job's tears | Coix lacryma-jobi | 薏仁; 薏米 | yìrén; yì mǐ | ji3 jan4; ji3 mai5 | Erroneously called Chinese pearl barley |
| jujube / red date | Ziziphus zizyphus | 紅棗/红枣 | hóng zǎo | hung4 zou2 | |
| kidney bean, black | Phaseolus vulgaris | 黑豆 | hēi dòu | hak1 dau2 | |
| kidney bean, white | Phaseolus vulgaris | 白菜荳/白菜豆 | bái cài dòu | baak6 coi3 dau2 | |
| kelp | 海帶/海带 | hǎi dài | hoi2 daai3 | Often cooked with mung beans in a sweet soup | |
| kumara / sweet potato | Ipomoea batatas | 番薯 | fān shǔ | faan1 syu5 | |
| lettuce | Lactuca sativa | 生菜 | shēng cài | saang1 coi3 | "live vegetable" |
| longan | Dimocarpus longan | 龍眼/龙眼 | lóng yǎn | lung4 ngaan5 | "dragon eye" |
| lotus root | Nelumbo nucifera | 蓮藕 | lián ǒu | lin4 ngau5 | |
| lotus seed | Nelumbo nucifera | 蓮子/莲子 | lián zǐ | lin4 zi2 | |
| Malabar spinach / shan choy | Basella alba | 潺菜; 落葵; 木耳菜 | chán cài; luò kuí; mù ěr cài | saan4 coi3; lok6 kwai4; muk6 ji5 coi3 | |
| millet, foxtail | Setaria italica | 小米 | xiǎo mǐ | siu2 mai5 | "little rice" |
| mung bean | Vigna radiata | 綠豆/绿豆 | lǜ dòu | luk6 dau2 | "green bean" |
| mung bean sprout | Vigna radiata | 芽菜 | yá cài | ngaa4 coi3 | "sprout vegetable" |
| mustard greens / gai choi | Brassica juncea | 芥菜 | jiè cài | gaai3 coi3 | |
| napa cabbage / Chinese cabbage, pekinensis variety | Brassica rapa, subspecies pekinensis | 大白菜; 黃芽白 | dà bái cài; huáng yá bái | daai6 baak6 coi3; wong4 ngaa4 baak6 | "large white vegetable"; "yellow sprout white" |
| olive, Chinese | Canarium album | 橄欖/橄榄 | gǎn lǎn | gaam3 laam5 | |
| olive, Chinese, with pickled mustard greens | 橄欖菜/橄榄菜 | gǎn lǎn cài | gaam3 laam5 coi3 | "olive vegetable" | |
| ong choy / water spinach | Ipomoea aquatica | 空心菜; 通菜; 蕹菜 | kōng xīn cài; tōng cài; wèng cài | hung1 sam1 coi3; tung1 coi3; ung3 coi3 | "hollow vegetable" a.k.a. water morning glory, water convolvulus |
| onion | Allium cepa var. cepa | 洋蔥/洋葱 | yáng cōng | joeng4 cung1 | |
| peanut | Arachis hypogaea | 花生 | huā shēng | faa1 sang1 | |
| pearl barley | Hordeum vulgare | 洋蔥/洋葱 | yáng cōng | joeng4 cung1 | |
| pickled cabbage / red-in-snow | Brassica juncea, subspecies multiceps | 雪里紅/雪里红 | xuě lǐ hóng | syut3 lei5 hung4 | "snow village red" |
| pinto bean | Phaseolus vulgaris | 黑白斑豆 | hēi bái bān dòu | haak1 baak6 baan1 dau2 | "black white spotted bean" |
| radish, Chinese white | Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus | 蘿蔔/萝卜; 白蘿蔔/白萝卜 | luó bo; bái luó bo | lo4 baak6; baak6 lo4 baak6 | "white radish" Used to make turnip cake. Separate cultivar from daikon, may have some green colouration |
| radish, Chinese green | Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus | 青蘿蔔/青萝卜 | qīng luó bo | cing1 lo4 baak6 | "green radish" Native to northern China, has green flesh |
| red date / jujube | Ziziphus zizyphus | 紅棗/红枣 | hóng zǎo | hung4 zou2 | |
| red-in-snow / pickled cabbage | Brassica juncea, subspecies multiceps | 雪里紅/雪里红 | xuě lǐ hóng | syut3 lei5 hung4 | "snow village red" |
| rice, white | Oryza sativa | 大米; 米 | dà mǐ; mǐ | daai6 mai5; mai5 | Cooked rice is called 飯/饭 (Mandarin: fàn, Cantonese: faan6) |
| rice, brown | 糙米 | cāo mǐ | cou3 mai5 | "coarse rice" Unmilled or partly milled rice. | |
| rice, glutinous | Oryza sativa var. glutinosa | 糯米 | nuò mǐ | no6 mai5 | "sticky rice" |
| sago | Metroxylon sagu and others | 西米 | xī mǐ | sai1 mai5 | "western rice" |
| scallion / spring onion | Allium cepa, Allium fistulosum, Allium chinense | 蔥/葱 | cōng | cung1 | |
| seaweed, purple laver | Porphyra | 紫菜 | zǐ cài | zi2 coi3 | "purple vegetable" Foliose red algae |
| sesame seed | Sesamum indicum | 芝麻 | zhī ma | zi1 maa4 | Both black and white varieties may be used. |
| Sichuan pepper | Zanthoxylum piperitum, Z. simulans, Z. schinifolium | 花椒 | huā jiāo | faa1 ziu1 | |
| Sichuan preserved vegetable / zha cai | Brassica juncea, subspecies tatsai | 榨菜 | zhà cài | zaa3 coi3 | |
| silk melon | Luffa acutangula, Luffa cylindrica | 絲瓜/丝瓜; 勝瓜 (Cantonese) | sī guā; shèng guā | si1 gwaa1; sing3 gwaa1 | "silk/thread melon"; "victory melon" |
| snake bean | Vigna unguiculata subspecies sesquipedalis | 豇荳/豇豆; 荳角/豆角 (Cantonese) | jiāng dòu; dòu jiǎo | gong1 dau2; dau6 gok3 | "kidney bean"; "bean corner" |
| snow pea | Pisum sativum var. saccharatum | 荷蘭豆/荷兰豆 | hé lán dòu | ho4 laan1 dau2 | "Holland bean" |
| soy bean | Glycine max | 黃荳/黄豆; 大荳/大豆 | huáng dòu; dà dòu | wong4 dau2; daai6 dau2 | "yellow bean"; "large bean" |
| soy bean, fermented and salted | Glycine max | 豆豉; 黑豆豆豉 | dòu chǐ; hēi dòu dòu chǐ | dau6 si6; haak1 dau2 dau6 si6 | a.k.a. Chinese black bean, not to be confused with the South American black turtle bean. Used to make black bean sauce. |
| soy milk | 豆漿/豆浆; 豆奶 | dòu jiāng; dòu nǎi | dau6 zoeng1; dau6 naai5 | ||
| soy sauce | 醬油/酱油; 豉油 | jiàng yóu; chǐ yóu | zoeng3 jau4; si6 jau4 | ||
| spinach | Spinacia oleracea | 菠菜 | bō cài | bo1 coi3 | |
| spring onion / scallion | Allium cepa, Allium fistulosum, Allium chinense | 蔥/葱 | cōng | cung1 | |
| star anise | Illicium verum | 八角 | bā jiǎo | baat3 gok3 | "eight corners" |
| sugar, rock | 冰糖 | bīng táng | bing1 tong4 | "ice sugar" | |
| sugar, white (refined) | 白糖 | bái táng | baak6 tong4 | ||
| sweet potato / kumara | Ipomoea batatas | 番薯 | fān shǔ | faan1 syu5 | |
| sweet osthmanthus flowers | Osmanthus fragrans | 桂花 | guì huā | gwai3 faa1 | Used in teas and soups with dumplings, available dried in Asian stores |
| taro | Colocasia esculenta, subspecies antiquorum | 芋頭/芋头 | yù tou | wu6 tau4 | |
| tofu | 豆腐 | dòu fu | dau6 fu6 | "bean curd" | |
| tofu, preserved, white | 腐乳 | fǔ rǔ | fu6 jyu5 | ||
| tofu, preserved, red | 紅腐乳/红腐乳; 南乳 | hóng fǔ rǔ; nán rǔ | hung4 fu6 jyu5; naam4 jyu5 | ||
| tofu, stinky | 臭豆腐 | chòu dòu fu | cau3 dau6 fu6 | ||
| tofu skin | 腐皮 | fǔ pí | fu6 pei4 | ||
| tofu skin, bunched | 腐竹 | fǔ zhú | fu6 zuk1 | ||
| tomato | Solanum lycopersicum | 番茄 | fān qié | faan1 ke5 | |
| tongho / Garland crysanthemum | Chrysanthemum coronarium var. spatisum | 茼蒿 | tóng hāo | tong4 hou1 | |
| walnut | Juglans regia | 核桃 | hé tao | hap6 tou4 | |
| water chestnut | Eleocharis dulcis; synonyms E. equisetina, E. indica, E. plantaginea, E. plantaginoides, E. tuberosa, E. tumida | 荸薺/荸荠; 馬蹄/马蹄 | bíqi; mǎ tí | but6 cai4; maa5 tai2 | "water chestnut"; "horse hoof" |
| water spinach / ong choy | Ipomoea aquatica | 空心菜; 通菜; 蕹菜 | kōng xīn cài; tōng cài; wèng cài | hung1 sam1 coi3; tung1 coi3; ung3 coi3 | "hollow vegetable" a.k.a. water morning glory, water convolvulus |
| watercress | Nasturtium officinale, Nasturtium microphyllum | 西洋菜 | xī yáng cài | sai1 joeng4 coi3 | "western ocean vegetable" |
| wheat | Triticum | 小麥/小麦 | xiǎo mài | siu2 mak6 | |
| winter melon | Benincasa hispida | 冬瓜 | dōng guā | dung1 gwaa1 | "winter melon" a.k.a. white gourd |
| wolfberry / goji berry | Lycium chinense and Lycium barbarum | 枸杞 | gǒu qǐ | gau2 gei2 | |
| yin choy | Amaranthus dubius | 莧菜/苋菜 | xiàn cài | jin6 coi3 | |
| zha cai / Sichuan preserved vegetable | Brassica juncea, subspecies tatsai | 榨菜 | zhà cài | zaa3 coi3 |