Is lettuce the same as A-choy? The differences explained clearly in one go

A-choy and celtuce look quite similar and taste similar too, so some people ask whether A-choy and celtuce are the same vegetable. So, is lettuce A-choy?

1. Is lettuce A-choy?

Lettuce is not A-choy. Lettuce is fresh and crisp, with tender flesh; the stem can be eaten raw, served in cold dishes, stir-fried, dried, or pickled and canned, and it is a common vegetable.

2. The differences between A-choy and celtuce

A-choy: it looks like celtuce, but its leaves are slender and flat, and its fleshy stem is thin and short; it belongs to a variety of leaf lettuce——romaine lettuce, similar to common lettuce, and is also called Niu Li lettuce. Celtuce, also known as lettuce, sheng sun, bai sun, qianjin cai, and so on. Celtuce tastes fresh and tender, with a pale green color; dishes made from it can be meaty or vegetarian, cold or hot, and the texture is crisp. When buying, choose the ones whose flesh is green.

In terms of the differences between A-choy and celtuce, from the appearance, celtuce has broad leaves, and its stem has ring after ring, like a bamboo shoot, and is relatively thick. A-choy, however, has slender, flat leaves and a thin, short fleshy stem, like a “miniature version” of celtuce. From the perspective of kinship, celtuce and A-choy both belong to the genus Lactuca; celtuce belongs to stem lettuce, and A-choy belongs to a variety of leaf lettuce—romaine lettuce. By comparison, A-choy is closer to the lettuce people are familiar with.

Celtuce has the effect of opening up and smoothing the flow, relieving stagnation and descending qi, and helps promote digestion; A-choy has the effects of clearing the liver and benefiting the gallbladder and nourishing the stomach. The slightly bitter lactucin in the stems and leaves of celtuce has effects such as pain relief and hypnosis, lowering cholesterol, auxiliary treatment of neurasthenia, clearing dryness and moistening the lungs, and resolving phlegm and relieving cough; A-choy contains active ingredients such as mannitol, which has diuretic effects and promotes blood circulation. Celtuce can be eaten in many ways: braised, stir-fried, or served cold; A-choy is mainly eaten raw, can be served cold, or dipped in various seasonings, and if it is to be stir-fried, the time must not be too long.