Is Yamagata Prefecture's mysterious food ingredient "Hyou" a vegetable? Or a weed? Its true identity is "purslane"!

ingredient that was featured on a TV program in the past and became a hot topic,hyo" (in the local dialect)called "

It's true that hail is common and sometimes treated as a nuisance in the fields, but it's actually quite delicious. How do you eat it? It's common, but what's the truth?

This time, we will answer that question and introduce it to you

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What is Hyo's real name? Is it really Weed?

Many people are probably familiar with Portulaca, a cultivated variety of purslane (also known as "hyō"). However, "hyō" is actually a dialect name from Yamagata Prefecture;its official name is "purslane.

for why purslane is called "hyō""hiyu" (a type of citrus fruit) was corrupted into "hyō."The most likely explanation

While it's true that in Japan it's considered a weed and a nuisance in fields, it has been used as food worldwide since ancient times, and in China it's used in traditional medicine. In France and other countries, it's"parslain"apparently sold in markets under the name

Inland Yamagata Prefecture has long been eating purslane as food, even though it is considered a nuisance in the fields, so perhaps this is a surprisingly progressive approach... If you were to say that "Yamagata residents eat weeds," you might be laughed at in other countries

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They seem to be treated as a nuisance in the fields... but do they have any nutritional value?

The reason why purslane is used in traditional Chinese medicine in China is probably because it has excellent efficacy

a prime example of a nutrient found in abundance in purslanePotassium, containing nearly 500 mg per 100 g.

Potassium promotes the excretion of sodium (salt), so it can be expected to help maintain normal blood pressure for people who are concerned about their salt intake due to hypertension or other conditions. It also contains a lot of sodium, vitamin C, and calcium.

Recently,attention for its omega-3 fatty acid contentpurslane has been attractinga readily available vegetable that's also rich in nutrientsIt's fair to say that

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When is purslane in season? How can you eat it?

Purslane grows rapidly from spring to summer and can cause trouble for field owners

It is not thought to be cultivated in any particular way, but I often hear of cases where people plowed a field, left it for a while, and then when they returned, found the whole field infested with hail (purslane). Perhaps because of its reproductive ability, it has come to be called a nuisance and a weed in the fields

However, thanks to our ancestors who thought that if they were going to remove it as weeds anyway, they might as well eat it, it has become a food culture that is still deeply rooted in the region

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How to eat it deliciously?

The most popular way to eat it is to boil it and then marinate it. It is also commonly served with mustard soy sauce. It is also popular as a side dish and as a snack to go with alcohol

Its slimy texture and unique chewiness make it incredibly delicious, and you might find yourself eating too much., it also contains oxalic acid,so be careful not to overeat. Eating too much of anything is never a good idea, right?

Even within Yamagata Prefecture, in the snowy inland areas, especially in the Okitama region, people seem to have enjoyed eating hail (purslane), which can be eaten before harvesting crops in the fields

Dried purslane, known as "hyoboshi," is eaten during the New Year as a lucky charm, with the word "hyoboshi" (leaf) playing on the idea that "perhaps something good will happen." It is often eaten by boiling it and then reconstituting it in a stew

Winter vegetables are precious in snowy regions, so dried hail (purslane) was likely a highly valued winter food ingredient

While not suitable for eating raw,: boiled and used in salads, stir-fried, or stewed. It's also delicious in dishes like namul (Korean seasoned vegetable side dish).

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summary

Purslane became famous nationwide after being featured on a TV program with the slogan "Yamagata residents eat weeds." However, it turns out that even the prefecture's residents were unaware that in other countries it is called "purslane" and openly sold as a vegetable in markets

Purslane, a common grass that has been eaten since ancient times in Yamagata Prefecture, especially in the Okitama region, and that grows naturally in fields, was once considered a weed, but now it can be found in supermarkets as a vegetable

Highly nutritious and a good preserved food for winter, purslane may become popular and spread throughout the country

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