Free Chinese Lesson - Buy your beloved purple "space" potatoes

CITYLIFE / Hip & New






Buy your beloved purple "space" potatoes

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-02-12 11:38


A special type of sweet purple potato, grown from seeds once aboard
China's second manned spacecraft, could be a must-choose item for young
couples in Shanghai on Valentine's Day.

The new type of sweet potato, developed from seeds that mutated in outer
space, has a much deeper purple color than previous generations,
according to the Haikou Purple Orchid Co. Ltd., the grower, in China's
southernmost Hainan Province.

Named Purple Orchid 3, the "space" potatoes are of normal size and not
much different from ordinary potatoes in sweetness and fragrance, but
taste more glutinous, said company manager Chang Lingen.

In October 2005 China's second manned spacecraft, "Shenzhou VI",
completed a five-day space voyage. Apart from the two astronauts, the
space vehicle carried various plant and flower seeds for experiments.

Since purple is believed to represent nobility and romance, restaurants
in the booming city of Shanghai have started offering a range of culinary
delights featuring the new purple sweet potatoes, as a warm-up promotion
for Valentine's Day, which couples in China often celebrate by eating out.

The General Club of Shanghai Food and Drink Industrial Association
recently invited 30 well-known local chefs to try out more than 60
possible "space potato" dishes.

Kent KC Lee, a top chef from Hong Kong who now works in Shanghai's
Carnation Restaurant, pioneered a Purple Orchid series including salad,
appetizers, desserts, mini cakes and an iced drink.

One of the most popular is the Purple Orchid cod ball, four balls of cod
fish covered by purple potato crisps on a bed of decorative fruit salad.

"Almost every table of guests tries out a dish or two in the Purple
Orchid series," said Peng Yuan, head waitress of Carnation Restaurant.

The restaurant has consumed hundreds of kilograms of the new purple sweet
potatoes since it started promoting the purple series, said the
restaurant's general manager Hua Guoqiang, who was confident that sales
during Valentine's Day and the Chinese lunar new year holiday would be
solid.

"It tasted like rice flour for babies. I like the flavor," said Zong
Zhaowang, a postgraduate student from Shanghai-based Tongji University
who tried Purple Orchid juice at the restaurant.

Unlike ordinary white potatoes that are planted in soil, the Purple
Orchid 3 is cultivated on the sandy beaches of Hainan island, at 18 to 20
degrees latitude north.

The purple sweet potato is mainly composed of fibrins and pectin, which
can stimulate the stomach and intestines, experts said.










Feature




Pilgrimage to Tibet If you want to get a detailed Travel Handbook to
Tibet and know more interesting tour routes leading to this divine place.
Please click here!

Yunnan New Film Project Ten female directors from China! Ten unique
sights from mysterious Yunnan Province!Yunnan New Film Project,Travel
with the film.Wanna know more? Please click here!




Editors' Picks




� Horoscopes help you find the special gifts

� Romantic Valentine's Day dinner

� Jazz up your life

� Sports' dress codes

� The high price of love





Beijing Guide




Eating out: The Revolution lives on!
Bars&Cafes: VJ meets DJ at Centro
Weekend&Holiday: Summer Palace to hold "Royal carnival"
Shopping: Gift ideas for Valentine's Day
What's on: Love dance







Shanghai Guide


Eating out: Reignite the spark
Bars&Cafes: Cave-like club
Weekend&Holiday: Forefront of celebration
Shopping: The way to a girl's heart
What's on: Lovers of 'Era'





Learn Chinese, Learn Mandarin online, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing,