街市THE WET MARKET
Gai lan
芥蘭
Thick-stemmed, thick-leaved, faintly bitter and sweet: gai lan with garlic or with oyster sauce is a household regular. In Australia it is on the shelf all year under three names, gai lan at the grocer, Chinese broccoli on the Woolworths packet and Broccoli Chinese on the bunch tag.
Preparation
Peel and split the thick stems; blanch, then toss.
Origin
Southern China. Coles, Woolworths and every Asian grocer, best autumn to spring, thickest-stemmed in winter. Broccolini, a gai lan cross, sits beside it and is cooked the same way when gai lan is out.
Availability in Australia
Easy to find
Australian name · gai lan / Chinese broccoli
Where · Coles, Woolworths, Asian grocers and markets
What to ask for · The Woolworths bunch tag says Broccoli Chinese
If it is not there · Broccolini, a gai lan cross, cooked the same way
In season · Best autumn to spring
Checked Harris Farm · 2026-08-18
Where · Coles, Woolworths, Asian grocers and markets
What to ask for · The Woolworths bunch tag says Broccoli Chinese
If it is not there · Broccolini, a gai lan cross, cooked the same way
In season · Best autumn to spring
Checked Harris Farm · 2026-08-18
