Sansai (山菜) is a Japanese word literally meaning "mountain vegetables", originally referring to vegetables that grew naturally, were foraged in the wild, and not grown and harvested from fields. However, in modern times, the distinction is somewhat blurred, as some sansai such as warabi have been successfully cultivated.[1] For example, some of the fern shoots such as bracken (fiddlehead) and zenmai shipped to market are farm-grown.
They are often sold pre-cooked in water, and typically packaged in plastic packs in liquid. The fern shoots warabi (bracken), fuki stalks in sticks, and mixes which may contain the above-mentioned combined with baby bamboo shoots, mushrooms, etc., are available in retail supermarkets, and ethnic foodstores in the US.
Niyama-irakusa (ミヤマイラクサ), Laportea macrostachya - Nettlelike plants, which though young leaves and stems are eaten have stinging hairs requiring caution[2]
Nomijigasa (モミジガサ), Parasenecio delphiniifolius, syn. Cacolia delphiniifolia) - an aster family plant, for young leaves and shoots[2]
"蕗とつわぶき". 讃岐の食(Sanuki eating). 2001. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
MAFF (December 2004). "山菜関係資料(Sansai-related material)"(PDF). Ministry of Agriculture. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012. (government website PDF)
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