Celery

APPEARANCE: Asian celery looks just like its Western supermarket counterpart, except it is more lean, green, and leafy. Stalks seldom measure more than ½ inch in diameter, and entire bunches seldom more than 2 inches, even at the base.

QUALITY: Select plants with the fattest and whitest (i.e. most tender) stalks. Check for worm holes in cracks in the stalks.

COMMENTS: Apparently both Euro-American and Chinese celeries represent a single species that has diverged in development over the past 1,500 years. Both have the same aromatic flavor, crunchy-crisp texture, and stringy nature; the Chinese type is simply stronger on all counts. It is also more nutritious, having more of virtually everything in the way of vitamins and (particularly) minerals than its milder cousin.