The list of Ayurvedic herbs that are accustomed to think as food in China
API herbs can be taken as food or seasoning in (some parts of) China
The “part” is the edible part in China
1.
Chinese character: 芫荽
Chinese phonetic transcription: yansui
English: Coriander/ Cilantro
Part: fresh aerial part
API: Dhānyaka (Coriandrum sativum Linn.)
(Note: in API we use the dried ripe fruit)
2.
Chinese character: 槟榔
Chinese phonetic transcription: Binglang
English: Areca/ Betel Nut
Part: fruit
API: Pūga (Areca catechu Linn)
Even be listed in carcinogenic substance, Areca is still a hobby of consumer goods of some people in China
3.
Chinese character: 小豆蔻
Chinese phonetic transcription: Xiaodoukou
English: Cardamom
Part: fruit
API: Sūkṣmailā (Elettaria cardamomum (Linn.) Maton)
4.
Chinese character: 孜然
Chinese phonetic transcription: Ziran
English: Cumin
Part: fruit
API: Śvetajiraka (Cuminum cyminum Linn)
5.
Chinese character: 胡桃 (核桃)
Chinese phonetic transcription: Hutao (Hetao)
English: Walnut
Part: cotyledons
API: Akṣoḍa (Juglans regia Linn.)
ChP: Juglans regia L.
6.
Chinese character: 石榴
Chinese phonetic transcription: Shiliu
English: Pomegranate
Part: ripe fruit
API: Dāḍima (Punica granatum Linn.)
ChP: Punica granatum L.
(Note, in API we use the dried seed)
7.
Chinese character: 甜瓜
Chinese phonetic transcription: Tianguan
English: Snake Cucumber
Part: ripe fruit
API: Ervāru (Cucumis melo var. utilissimus Duthie & Fuller Syn. C. utilissimus Roxb.)
ChP: Cucumis melo L.
8.
Chinese character: 甘蔗
Chinese phonetic transcription: Ganzhe
English: Sugar Cane
Part: stem
API: Ikṣu/ Ikṣu rasa (Saccharum officinarum Linn.)
9.
Chinese character: 象橘
Chinese phonetic transcription: Xiangju
English: Wood apple
Part: mature fruit
API: Kapittha (Feronia limonia (Linn.) Swingle. Syn. F. elephantum Correa)
Rarely in China
10.
Chinese character: 苦瓜
Chinese phonetic transcription: Kugua
English: Bitter gourd
Part: fresh fruit
API: Kāravallaka (Momordica charantia Linn.)
11.
Chinese character: 萝卜
Chinese phonetic transcription: Luobo
English: Radish
Part: root
API: Mūlaka (Raphanus sativus Linn.)
ChP: Raphanus sativus L.
12.
Chinese character: 水稻
Chinese phonetic transcription: Shuidao
English: Rice, Paddy
Part: mature fruit
API: Śālī (Oryza sativa Linn.)
ChP: Oryza sativa L.
13.
Chinese character: 大麦
Chinese phonetic transcription: Damai
English: Barley
Part: mature fruit
API: Yava (Hordeum vulgare Linn. Syn H. sativum Pers.)
ChP: Hordeum vulgare L.
14.
Chinese character: 杧果 (芒果)
Chinese phonetic transcription: Mangguo
English: Mango
Part: mature fruit
API: Āmra (Mangifera indica Linn.)
(Note, in API we use the dried seed and dried stem bark)
15.
Chinese character: 葡萄干
Chinese phonetic transcription: Putaogan
English: Dry Grape, Raisin
Part: dried matrue fruit
API: Drākṣā (Vitis vinifera Linn.)
16.
Chinese character: 大蕉
Chinese phonetic transcription: Dajiao
English: Banana
Part: matrue fruit
API: Kadalī (Musa paradisiaca Linn.)
(Note: in API we use the fresh rhizome and dried flower)
17.
Chinese character: 莲藕
Chinese phonetic transcription: Lian’ou
English: Lotus
Part: dried rhizome with root
API: Kamala (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. syn. Nelumbium nelumbo Druce, N.)
18.
Chinese character: 毛杨梅
Chinese phonetic transcription: Maoyangmei
English: Box Myrtle, Bay Berry,
Part: mature fruit
API: Kamala (Myrica esculenta Buch.- Ham. ex D. Don syn M. nagi Hook.f.)
19.
Chinese character: 广东丝瓜
Chinese phonetic transcription: Guangdongsiguan
English: Ribbed Gourd
Part: ripe fruit
API: Koṣātakī (Luffa acutangula (Linn.) Roxb)
(Note, in API we use the dried whole plant)
20.
Chinese character: 大蒜
Chinese phonetic transcription: Dasuan
English: Garlic
Part: fresh bulb
API: Laśuna (Allium sativum Linn.)
21.
Chinese character: 兵豆
Chinese phonetic transcription: Bingdou
English: Lentil
Part: ripe seed
API: Masūra (Lens culinaris Medic.)
22.
Chinese character: 绿豆
Chinese phonetic transcription: Lyudou
English: Green Gram (Mung Bean in China)
Part: ripe seed
API: Mudga (Phaseolus radiatus Linn. (Vigna radiata (Linn.) Wilczek. in China))
23.
Chinese character: 椰子
Chinese phonetic transcription: Yezi
English: Coconut
Part: endosperm
API: Nārikela (Cocos nucifera Linn.)
24.
Chinese character: 油菜 (芸薹)
Chinese phonetic transcription: Youcai (Yuntai)
English: Mustard, Rapeseed
Part: (oil of) mature seed
API: Sarṣapa (Brassica campestris Linn.)
25.
Chinese character: 葫芦
Chinese phonetic transcription: Hulu
English: Bottle Gourd
Part: fresh fruit
API: Tumbinī (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) StandI. syn. L. leucantha Rusby., L. vulgaris Ser.)
26.
Chinese character: 木豆
Chinese phonetic transcription: Mudou
English: Pigeon Pea
Part: ripe seed
API: Āḍhakī (Cajanus cajan Linn.)
27.
Chinese character: 酸豆
Chinese phonetic transcription: Suandou
English: Tamarind Tree
Part: fruit pulp without seed
API: Ciñcā (Tamarindus indica Linn.)
28.
Chinese character: 海枣 (椰枣)
Chinese phonetic transcription: Haizao (Yezao)
English: Date
Part: fruit
API: Kharjura (Phoenix dactylifera Linn.)
29.
Chinese character: 冬瓜
Chinese phonetic transcription: Donggua
English: White guard melon, Wax gourd
Part: fruit
API: Kūśmānḍa (Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.)
30.
Chinese character: 柠檬
Chinese phonetic transcription: Ningmeng
English: Lemon
Part: fruit
API: Nimbū (Citrus limon (Linn.) Burm. f. syn. C. medica var. limonum)
31.
Chinese character: 欧洲樱桃
Chinese phonetic transcription: Ouzhou Yingtao
English: Sweet Cherry
Part: ripe fruit
API: Elavālukaṃ (Prunus avium Linn.f.)
(Note: in API we use the dried mature seed, root and stem bark)
32.
Chinese character: 鹰嘴豆
Chinese phonetic transcription: Yingzuidou
English: Bengal gram, Chick pea, Gram
Part: ripe seed
API: Caṇaka (Cicer arietinum L.)
(Note, in API we use the whole plant)
33.
Chinese character: 糁子
Chinese phonetic transcription: Shenzi
English: Finger Millet, Ragi
Part: ripe seed
API: Madhūlikā (Eleusine corocana (L.) Gaertn.)
(Note: in API we use the dried root)
34.
Chinese character: 黄瓜
Chinese phonetic transcription: Huanggua
English: Cucumber
Part: mature fruit
API: Trapuṣaṃ (Cucumis sativus Linn.)
(Note: in API we use the dried seed)
35.
Chinese character: 番木瓜
Chinese phonetic transcription: Fanmugua
English: Papaya, Melon tree, Pawpaw
Part: fruit
API: Eraṇḍakarkaṭī (Carica papaya L.)
36.
Chinese character: 椑柿
Chinese phonetic transcription: Beishi
English: Indian Gaub, Persimon
Part: fruit
API: Tinduka (Diospyros peregrina Gurke. syn Diospyros embryopteris L.)
37.
Chinese character: 黄油
Chinese phonetic transcription: Huangyou
English: Clarified Cow’s Butter
Part: butter
API: Goghṛta
38.
Chinese character: 红糖/粗糖
Chinese phonetic transcription: Hongtang/Cutang
English: Jaggery (In China we are used to use the brown sugar)
Part: sugar
API: Guda (Saccharum officinarum L.)
39.
Chinese character: 糖
Chinese phonetic transcription: Tang
English: Sugar
Part: sugar
API: Śarkarā
40.
Chinese character: 菜油（菜籽油）
Chinese phonetic transcription: Caiyou(Caiziyou)
English: Mustard Oil
Part: oil
API: Sarṣapa Taila (Brassica campestris L.)
41.
Chinese character: 芝麻油
Chinese phonetic transcription: Zhimayou
English:Sesamum Oil
Part: oil
API: Tila Taila (Sesamum indicum L.)
