Free Sample
The Complete Handbook of Gai Lan
A professional's field guide to selecting, storing, preparing, and sourcing Gai Lan for wholesale, retail, and foodservice operations
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: Understanding Gai Lan
Gai Lan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra) is a leaf vegetable in the same biological species as cabbage, broccoli, and kale, but it is grown and selected for a specific edible profile: thick, fleshy stems, broad flat leaves, and small edible flower buds. Commercially, it is often translated as Chinese broccoli, but that name undervalues its distinctiveness. Broccoli is grown for an immature flower head; Gai Lan is grown for its vegetative bulk and its stems. Understanding this difference in market intent is the first step to evaluating its quality.
The plant is a biennial grown as an annual. In most commercial production, it is direct-seeded in the field or into trays for transplanting. The crop matures in 45 to 70 days from seeding, depending on the cultivar and season. A plant that reaches marketable size has a single erect stalk, often 15 to 25 millimeters (0.6 to 1.0 inch) in diameter at its base, and a large, smooth leaf blade with a smooth margin. The flowers, which are small and cruciform, are typically yellow or white depending on the cultivar. They appear at the top of the shoot when the plant begins to transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth—an event that any buyer must monitor closely because it is a primary indicator of marketable maturity and shelf life.
In the wholesale produce market, the plant is cut as a single stalk. The buyer receives the entire top of the plant: a terminal shoot, its