Allium chinense

Allium chinense (also known as Chinese onion,[3][4] Chinese scallion,[3] glittering chive,[5] Japanese scallion,[3] Kiangsi scallion,[4] and Oriental onion[3]) is an edible species of Allium, native to China,[3] and cultivated in many other countries.[6] Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and garlic.[7]

Flowers of Allium chinense
This article is about a plant with the Japanese name Rakkyō. For the film series, see Kara no Kyōkai.

Chinese onion
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Genus: Allium
Species:
A. chinense
Binomial name
Allium chinense
Synonyms[2]
Synonymy

Distribution

Allium chinense is native to China (in Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces).[3] It is naturalized in other parts of Asia as well as in North America.[3][8][9]

Uses

Culinary

Owing to its very mild and "fresh" taste, A. chinense is often pickled and served as a side dish in Japan and Vietnam to balance the stronger flavor of some other component in a meal. For example, in Japanese cuisine, it is eaten as a garnish on Japanese curry.[10]

In Vietnam, pickled A. chinense, known as củ kiệu, is often served during Tết (Lunar New Year).

In Japanese, it is known as rakkyō (辣韮 or 薤). Glass bottles of white rakkyō bulb pickles are sold in Asian supermarkets in North America.[11]

Medicinal

Allium chinense is used as a folk medicine in tonics to help the intestines, and as a stomachic.[12]

See also
  • Allium tuberosum, also known as garlic chives – Species of onion native to southwestern parts of the Chinese province of Shanxi
  • Pickled onion – Onions pickled in a solution of vinegar or salt

References
  1. Brummitt, N. (2013). "Allium chinense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T44392537A44396666. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T44392537A44396666.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. "Allium chinense". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  3. "Allium chinense". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  4. Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database: Allium. University of Melbourne. Updated 3 August 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  5. English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 347. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.
  6. Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 196 藠头 jiao tou Allium chinense G. Don, Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. 6: 83. 1827.
  7. Block, E. (2010). Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 978-0-85404-190-9.
  8. "Allium chinense Rakkyo PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  9. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Allium chinense". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  10. "Japanese beef curry (Curry Rice)". JustHungry. 2007-02-06. Archived from the original on 2007-02-08. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  11. "Niitakaya Rakkyo". Asia Mart, Santa Rosa. Archived from the original on 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  12. James A. Duke. "Allium chinense (LILIACEAE)". Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
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