Are celtuce and leafy lettuce the same vegetable?

Celtuce and leafy lettuce look very similar in appearance and have quite similar tastes, so is celtuce the same as leafy lettuce? Let's take a look below.

1. Is celtuce the same as leafy lettuce?

Celtuce is not leafy lettuce. The main edible part of leafy lettuce is the leaves, while the main edible part of celtuce is the stem and leaves.

In terms of appearance, celtuce leaves are relatively broad and thick; compared with celtuce leaves, leafy lettuce leaves are relatively slender, short and compact. Celtuce and leafy lettuce both belong to the lettuce category. For celtuce, the stem and leaves are eaten, while for leafy lettuce, the leaves are mainly eaten. Although leafy lettuce resembles celtuce in appearance, they are two different vegetables, and their nutritional values also differ.

2. Introduction to leafy lettuce

The leaves of leafy lettuce have a smooth surface. Leafy lettuce also belongs to a variety of lettuce. It is a relatively long-leaved lettuce; like celtuce, leafy lettuce belongs to the same plant species in the genus Lactuca of the Asteraceae family. It tastes excellent when eaten, fresh and tender, soothing to the throat, with a delicate fragrance and a unique flavor. It also contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, as well as many trace elements needed by the human body, and nutrients such as calcium and iron. It can be eaten raw. Ordinary households usually eat it with sesame paste and other seasonings. It is a top-grade raw vegetable. It is a new face appearing on the vegetable market, and in some places it is also called bitter vegetable.

3. Introduction to celtuce

Like leafy lettuce, celtuce belongs to the Asteraceae family. Celtuce is also called lettuce. The main edible part of leafy lettuce is its leaves, while the main edible part of celtuce is its stem. It is a biennial or annual herbaceous plant. Celtuce did not originate in China; it was introduced to China from the Mediterranean coast around the 5th century. The aboveground stem is edible, and the outer skin of the stem is white-green, with crisp and tender flesh; in the early stage the stem is emerald green, and after maturity it turns white-green. Celtuce also has many ways of being eaten: it can be served cold, eaten raw, stir-fried, dried, or pickled as a salted vegetable. Like leafy lettuce, celtuce contains a large amount of vitamins and mineral trace elements needed by the human body. Celtuce has relatively strong adaptability and is mostly cultivated in spring and autumn, mainly in spring, and harvested in summer.

Although celtuce and leafy lettuce are very similar, they are two different vegetables, so be sure to distinguish between them.