Chinese Leeks Delivery or Pickup

The Chinese leek, or Allium Tuberosum, is native to the Chinese province of Shanxi but is now cultivated around the world. It goes by several other names, including Asian chives, Chinese chives, garlic chives, and Oriental garlic. 

This clump-forming perennial plant grows from a small, elongated bulb. The bulb itself has a tough and fibrous texture. Unlike garlic, the Chinese leek has a triangular base that grows into strap-shaped leaves less than 1/2-inch wide. In warmer climates, the Chinese leek's stalk remains green year-round. In colder regions, the stalk completely dies back to ground level and re-sprouts from roots in the spring.

The flavor of Chinese leeks more resembles that of garlic than chive. Its wide cultivation over the centuries has seen the Chinese leek used for many purposes, including as an ornamental plant in gardens and for traditional medicines. Today, the Chinese leek enjoys a favored status in the culinary world. The leaves, stalks, and even unopened flower buds get used for flavoring in many dishes.

In China, the Chinese leek has been used in everything from stir-fry dishes to dumplings and even pancakes. Its resemblance to the chive and green onion runs beyond its appearance and adds flavor to many American, European, and Indian recipes. The Japanese use the Chinese leek in their miso soup. Korean cuisine uses the leek in many dishes, most notably in kimchi, an often spicy side dish of salted and fermented vegetables. In Kazakhstan, the Chinese leek adds flavor to samosa filling, a stuffed pastry with meat and vegetables.

Chinese leeks are picked when ripe and arrive at your grocery store ready to use. They come packaged similarly to green onions, bundled together with the green stalk that lightens to white toward the bottom and a small white bulb with tiny roots dangling off it. They should be flexible yet firm and free from discoloration. If you feel any sliminess, find another bunch as this indicates age. You want to avoid Chinese leeks with brown or yellow spots as these are the beginning signs of rot. 

Chinese leeks need to be refrigerated, with one exception. If you've purchased a bundle with the roots attached, you can put them in a vase with the roots submerged and keep them on your counter, and they will continue to grow. You can also plant them in a small pot with the same result. This technique lets you keep the leeks indefinitely, and you can cut the leeks when you need them for recipes.

In the refrigerator, the Chinese leeks will last five to seven days without any special treatment. If you need to keep them longer, you can wrap them in a damp towel, put them in a perforated plastic bag, and place the bag in the crisper drawer. The Chinese leeks will last seven to 10 days stored like this. You can freeze leeks for more extended storage, but the relatively low cost of Chinese leeks makes most people opt to use the freezer space for other items.

If you need to buy Chinese leeks for your next recipe, using the Instacart app to shop for them can save you time. After you add them to your cart and check out, an Instacart shopper will prepare your order. In as little as 2 hours, your Chinese leeks can be ready for in-store pickup or home delivery!