What is the difference between Gongcai and lettuce?

Many people may have had this experience: many of the vegetables we come into contact with in our daily lives look similar in appearance, but they are actually two different types of vegetables. This is the case with tribute vegetables and lettuce. Since they are two different dishes, we must distinguish the characteristics of Gongcai and lettuce, identify them correctly, and choose the one we like. So, what is the difference between Gongcai and lettuce?

1. What is Gongcai?

Gongcai, also known as dried moss or xiangcai, is a type of lettuce, but it is not lettuce. Its color is brighter than lettuce, and its texture is fresher. It tastes like jellyfish and its nutritional value is much higher than lettuce.

2. What is lettuce?

Lettuce is a common dish in people's daily life. It can be divided into leaf lettuce and stem lettuce. In some areas, leaf lettuce is called romaine lettuce, while stem lettuce is cylindrical with a hard skin on the surface. After peeling, the flesh is green and white liquid will appear. These are characteristics that Gongcai does not have, and are also the biggest difference between the two.

3. Gongcai lettuce has a different taste

The taste of Gongcai and lettuce is also very different. When stir-frying lettuce, it will become soft quickly after being put into the pan, and it will feel soft in the mouth after being fried. However, this is not the case with Gongcai. Its crisp taste will not change after being fried. However, it is worth noting that Gongcai is not common in the market, and some unscrupulous vendors will cut the lettuce into strips and process it into dried products, and sell them as Gongcai. Therefore, everyone must be careful to identify it when purchasing.