Lily Bulb

Grown in northern China, this root vegetable is not the common variety of Lily often grown as a decorative flower. It is however a flowering Lily but is harvested as the bulb matures into a round white ball-shaped vegetable. Often referred to as a Lanzhou Lily, the Lily Bulb is grown in the region China's Yellow Plateau situated in the Ganzu province where altitudes range from approximately 6,500 feet (almost 2,000 meters) to over 10,000 feet (over 3,000 meters). The Lily Bulb is most often prepared for use in Asian soups, stews, cooked cereals (porridge), and various vegetable dishes, providing a tender texture with a delicate, sweet flavor. It is a food that is commonly considered by the Chinese as a health food to provide relief from heart and lung ailments.