Coosemans Worldwide - Produce Quiz

I am the smallest member of my family. I wasn’t always this small; I’ve just become rounded over the years. Native to China, where I was cultivated over 5000 years ago, I was basically flat. The Chinese turned on the Greeks to me and before long I was in every European garden worth mentioning. While my medicinal value is limited when compared to the relief my relatives offer, I fooled many a country into believing I was magic. I had them hang me up by the bunch in hopes of warding off evil spirits and disease. Truth be told, I did none of this, but I made for nice decoration when dried. My sulfur content is very slight so you won’t get any bitter overtones from me, like you would from my brothers and sisters. From my tall thin filiform leaves, I produce lovely flowers in white, pink or purple that is a perfect garnish or colorful addition sprinkled over a salad. We are cut in bunches and never uprooted because we continually grow back. Our delicate texture and subtle flavor, along with our elegant length, is perfect for numerous fresh uses. You will find us cooked into eggs, potatoes, and several sauces, but we must be added at the last minute or our flavor will be lost. In decorative fashion we are often found holding the asparagus or beans together. We also help poor people hold onto their change, providing a civic duty to the community. I have also been known to get dried, tied, and classically supplied. If you want to juice me, I can be used as a vermifuge.

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Produce Quiz courtesy of:
Richard Leibowitz
Culinary Specialty Produce
"We Follow Orders"

The answer to last week's quiz: CAPE GOOSEBERRIES
Last week's question?

I am not even close to being a super hero. Although I am a member of the nightshade family and related to the potato, pepper, tomato, and eggplant, I am actually a berry. Native to Mexico I have been cultivated since the Aztec civilization. Through cultivation in both Mexico and Canada I am available year round with occasional gaps. I am about one inch in diameter and most often picked when green. I will ripen to a yellow or purple when ripe. My feel is firm and my skin is always glossy as I am protected by my orange/brown-purple veined cape. My cape is so spectacular that it is often peeled back decoratively for décor. My taste is somewhat acidic and some say I have hints of lemon, apple, or herb flavors. I am most popular in Mexican cooking, used fresh in salads, salsas, guacamole, gazpacho and the famous mole-verde sauce. I am and excellent source of potassium while also providing good sources of vitamin C, Magnesium, and niacin. As a pharmafood I can reduce fever, remedy rheumatism, and act as a cleansing agent.