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Tatsoi
Brassica rapa var. rosularis

Tim O'Hare, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. 

Photo of a bunch of tatsoi

Other names

English: rosette pak choy, Chinese flat cabbage/pak choi, flat black cabbage/pak choi

Chinese: wu ta cai, ta ge cai, ta gu cai, hei cai, piao er cai, tai koo choy

Japanese: Tatsoi, tasai

Use

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are tougher and stronger flavoured than standard pak choy and hence many prefer it cooked (stir-fried, steamed or in soups) rather than raw. Young leaves can be used in salad.

Quality characteristics

  • leaves should be green and free of yellowing, holes and  cuts

  • leaf stalks should be free of bruises and attached to the central stem

  • central stem should be compact with no sign of bolting

  • overall appearance of leaf stalks and  leaves should be fresh with no wilting caused by moisture loss

  • base cut should be clean and  free of rots.

Postharvest handling

Low temperature storage slows leaf yellowing and  water loss. Cool to at least 5°C before packaging. Packaging reduces water loss and  adds value through improved presentation.

Wash in sanitised water before packing to minimise rots. Allow to air-dry before packing in plastic bags.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging reduces respiration rate and therefore slows yellowing.

Optimum combinations of oxygen and carbon dioxide are shown above (green = beneficial, yellow = no effect, brown = toxic). 

Graphic illustrating optimum Oxygen and carbon dioxide for packaging tatsoi 

DPI&F information and services

  • To access DPI&F's information and services, Queensland residents can contact the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 for the cost of a local call, from 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). E-mail callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au. Non-Queensland residents phone (07) 3404 6999.
  • Current national information on agricultural chemicals registered for use on all crops is available on the Infopest CD-ROM. Write to DPI&F, GPO Box 46, Brisbane, Qld 4001, E-mail infopest@dpi.qld.gov.au, visit the Infopest web page, or phone (07) 3239 3967 for further information.
  • Other horticultural information is available on the Plant industries home page.
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.

Last reviewed 02 January 2008


 

© The State of Queensland, (Primary Industries and Fisheries within the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation) 1995-2009.
Copyright protects this material. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by any means (photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise), making available online, electronic transmission or other publication of this material is prohibited without the prior written permission of The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland. Inquiries should be addressed to copyright@dpi.qld.gov.au (Queensland residents phone 13 25 23; non-Queensland residents phone 61 7 3404 6999).