vegetable benefits– tag –

Apple comes into season from autumn into winter, and its appeal is the fine balance of sweet and sour. As well as eating it as it is, you can enjoy it as a dessert, in a smoothie or baked. When choosing a fresh one, look for glossy, taut skin. Apples also keep well, staying good for a long time somewhere cool and dark, so you can enjoy the taste of the season at length.

Watermelon is the classic fruit of summer, known for its sweet, juicy flesh. As well as eating it chilled as it is, made into juice or a smoothie it tastes fresher still. The rind can be pickled, so nothing need go to waste. When choosing a fresh one, look for glossy skin and a light sound when you tap it.

Mung bean is a summer ingredient known for its small grains and vivid green. It works widely, in simmered dishes, soups and cold salads, its gentle sweetness lifting the whole dish. It plays its part particularly in bringing a sense of cool to a body worn down by the summer heat. When choosing fresh ones, look for a deep colour and even, firm grains.

Courgette is a summer vegetable known for its soft texture and light sweetness. Grilled or sautéed its flavour deepens, and added to a salad or ratatouille it lifts the whole dish. A fresh courgette has glossy skin and does not dent easily when pressed. Exactly right when you want something light and easy to eat in hot weather.

Bitter melon is held to cool excess heat in the body and ease the heaviness the heat brings. Add it to the summer table in champuru and the like. A fresh bitter melon has firm bumps and a deep green colour. When using it in champuru, rubbing it with salt reduces the bitterness.

Chinese cabbage is said to clear excess heat and settle the gut. Brought into a hotpot or a soup, it makes a meal that is kind to the body. In season in winter it grows sweeter and tastes better, and it works in a great many dishes.

Celery is known for its crisp texture and fresh aroma. Used in a stir-fry or a salad, that texture and aroma lift the whole dish. Added to a soup, its aroma spreads and gives a clean taste. A fresh celery has firm stalks and bright green leaves.

Mulberry leaf is bitter and sweet and cold in nature, and is a yakuzen tea ingredient held to settle excess heat trapped in the body and clear the eyes and head. Its appeal is a gentle flavour with nothing to object to, which suits a moment of rest or the times when you feel you have used your eyes too much. Dried and...

Mint is a herb that can be looked to for clearing excess heat from the body and encouraging sweating, easing trouble brought on by colds and by stress. It works in herbal tea, salads and desserts, so bringing it into everyday meals supports your health along with its aroma. Kept away from damp, it lasts a long time. A herb worth having in any season, for a change of mood and for managing how you feel.

Chrysanthemum flower is said to cool heat in the body and settle tired or red eyes in particular. It is also said to help ease trouble brought on by wind-heat. Added to tempura or a vinegared dish, it brings colour and aroma to the plate.