Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa, Chinese: 白菜; Hanyu Pinyin: báicài; Cantonese baak choy) is an East Asian leaf vegetable related to the Western cabbage. They are of the same species as the common turnip. There are many variations on its name, spelling, and Scientific classification. This is a common vegetable used in Chinese cuisine.
Varieties
There are two distinctly different groups of Brassica rapa, and a wide range of varieties within these two groups. The binomial name B. campestris is also used.
The Pekinensis group is the more common of the two, especially outside Asia; names such as da baicai (lit. "large white vegetable"); pe-tsai; Chinese white cabbage; nappa, or napa, cabbage; and hakusai (Japanese) usually refer to members of this group. Pekinensis cabbages have broad green leaves with white petioles, tightly wrapped in a cylindrical formation and usually, but not necessarily, forming a compact head. As the group name indicates, this is particularly popular in northern China around Beijing (Peking), as well as in Japan and Korea. It was introduced to Korea in the 15th century, and to Japan at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Chinensis group was originally classified as its own species under the name B. chinensis by Linnaeus. When used in English, the name bok choy typically refers to Chinensis. Smaller in size, the Mandarin term xiao baicai ("small white vegetable") as well as the descriptive English names Chinese chard, Chinese mustard, celery mustard and spoon cabbage are also employed. Chinensis varieties do not form heads; instead, they have smooth, dark green leaf blades forming a cluster reminiscent of mustard or celery. Chinensis varieties are popular in southern China and South-East Asia.