General Information
Choy Sum, or Choi Sum, plants can vary greatly in appearance, including in height and color. All Choy Sum has a common thread; they are characterised by their yellow flowering shoots produced from their fleshy stalks. Their appearance resembles broccoli rabe and mustard greens with oval-shaped, pointed tipped leaves. Choy Sum has a mildly cruciferous flavor similar to young broccoli and spinach with its flowers delivering a more pungent, mustard-like flavor.
Choy Sum is a cool season vegetable native to mainland China. It is one of the most important leafy vegetables in South China. At least 30 distinct varieties are cultivated there, specifically selected based upon the number of days it takes each variety to mature. Outside of China and Japan, Choy Sum is less relevant. It is cultivated in Asian farming communities throughout the Western hemisphere only where it readily adapts to uniform climatic and soil conditions.
