Is gongcai a "fafu" food? Learn the facts before eating it

Gongcai, also known as taigan, was cultivated 2000 years ago, but during the reign of Emperor Qianlong it was designated as fit only for the imperial household, and so it was called “gongcai”. So is gongcai a fafu food?

Gongcai is not a fafu food

What does fafu mean?

Fafu refers to foods that are rich in nutrients or stimulating and are especially likely to trigger certain diseases (particularly chronic old illnesses) or worsen an existing illness. Avoiding fafu foods is of great significance in dietary health care and dietary therapy. Under normal circumstances, fafu foods are still foods, and eating them in moderation will not cause side effects or discomfort for most people; only for certain special constitutions and the related diseases will they trigger illness.

What is gongcai?

Gongcai is a herbaceous plant with a very emerald-green surface color. Many vegetables are green, and this vegetable is extremely good for the human body when eaten. Its texture is similar to jellyfish, which is why it is widely loved. According to relevant records, it already appeared more than 2200 years ago. That was when Qianlong was in power, and this vegetable was offered as tribute every year, hence the name “gongcai”. Today gongcai is mainly grown around Bozhou City, Anhui, where the output is extremely large, and it is now even exported.