Longevity spinach

Gynura procumbens · Leafy green

40 pairings

Longevity spinach (Gynura procumbens), also called Okinawa spinach and sometimes sabah snake grass' close cousin, is a soft, sprawling leafy green of the daisy family grown across Southeast and East Asia. Its tender, mildly mucilaginous leaves are eaten both raw in salads and lightly cooked, and are widely reputed as a healthful "eat-it-and-live-long" green.

Picking a good onedrag

Plump and deep greenYellow, limp and slimy

Shop freshThe everyday bunch: raw in salads and juices, briefly blanched and dressed, or stir-fried with garlic.Buy it

Leaf colourGreen, a leaf or two beginning to pale

Leaf bodyStill plump, a shade softer to the press

Cut stemCut end sealed over, still pale inside

SmellMildly green, almost nothing at all

What to look for, from plump and deep green to yellow, limp and slimy.

Preparing