Fat choy

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Fat choy
"Nostoc flagelliforme" under a microscope
Nostoc flagelliforme under a microscope
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Cyanobacteria
Class: Cyanophyceae
Order: Nostocales
Family: Nostocaceae
Genus: Nostoc
Species:
N. flagelliforme
Binomial name
Nostoc flagelliforme
Guiry, 2016[1]
Synonyms[1]
Fat choy
Hanyu Pinyin
fàcài
IPA[fâ.tsʰâɪ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationfaat choi
Jyutpingfaat3 coi3
Alternative Chinese nameTraditional Chinese頭毛菜

Fat choy (traditional Chinese: 髮菜; simplified Chinese: 发菜; pinyin: fàcài; Jyutping: faat³ coi³; Nostoc flagelliforme) is a terrestrial cyanobacterium (a type of photosynthetic bacteria) that is used as a vegetable in Chinese cuisine. When dried, the product has the appearance of black hair. For that reason, its name in Chinese means "hair vegetable". When soaked, fat choy has a soft texture which is like very fine vermicelli.

Production

Fat choy grows on the ground in the

Over-harvesting on the Mongolian steppes has furthered erosion and desertification in those areas. The Chinese government has limited its harvesting, which has caused its price to increase.[2]

Commercially available fat choy has been found to be adulterated with strands of a non-cellular starchy material, with other additives and dyes.[2][3] Real fat choy is dark green in color, while the counterfeit fat choy appears black.[2]

Use

China

Its name in

tone) -- this is found, for example, in the Cantonese saying, "Gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4" (恭喜發財, meaning "wishing you prosperity"), often proclaimed during Chinese New Year. Therefore, it is a popular ingredient for the Chinese New Year, like in the reunion dinner. It is enjoyed as an alternative to cellophane noodles.[citation needed] It is mostly used in Cantonese cuisine and Buddhist cuisine. It is sometimes used as a hot pot
ingredient.

Due to its high price, fat choy is considered a luxury food, and only used in limited occasions. It is not eaten as a staple.[4]

Vietnam

Fat choy is also used in Vietnamese cuisine. It is called tóc tiên or tóc thiêng (literally "angel's hair") in Vietnamese.

Health effects

N. flagelliforme has no nutritional value,[

ng/g. Imitation fat choy does not contain BMAA.[4]

Across a 28-day duration, laboratory rats fed N. flagelliforme and the control group did not exhibit significant differences in any toxicological parameters.[6]

The algae and its extracts reduce the inflammatory action of white blood cells, specifically macrophages and splenocytes, in vitro.[7]

References

  1. ^
    ISSN 2009-8987
    . Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "The standard.com.hk". Archived from the original on November 22, 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Waynesword". Archived from the original on 2004-10-10. Retrieved 2004-11-07.
  4. ^
    S2CID 2893117
    .
  5. ^ The standard.com.hk. Mimi Lau, January 30, 2007, Ban sought on Lunar delicacy Archived November 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Takenaka 1998.
  7. PMID 23357040
    .

External links