Swollen-Stem Mustard
Brassica juncea tsatsai tumida

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

Swollen-stem mustard, Brassica juncea, is an annual plant up to 75 cm tall often cultivated for its edible leaves and swollen stem. The leaves, stem, flowers and young flowering stems are consumed raw or cooked. The seed contains oil that is edible. It is also used as a mustard flavouring. The root is edible as well. Medicinally, it is reported to relieve pain, increase appetite, and is used against arthritis, foot ache, lumbago, and rheumatism among others. It is also diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, galactagogue, and stimulant.

Brassica juncea tsatsai tumida is a ANNUAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.8

Where it is found

Not known in the wild.

A cultivar of garden origin.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Asia, China

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Edible portion: Flowers, Leaves, Oil, Stem, Vegetable. Leaves and leaf stems - raw or cooked. A peppery flavour that can range from mild to hot, this is one of the most highly prized cooked vegetables in the Orient. The leaves can also be finely shredded and added to mixed salads. The protein extracted from the leaves mixes well with banana pulp and is well adapted as a pie filling. Flowers and young flowering stems - raw or cooked. Sweet and succulent. The stem is trimmed then washed, halved, withered slightly and preserved with salt, cayenne pepper and zanthoxylum pericarps under pressure then marketed. An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. The seed contains 25 - 30% oil. The seed is used as a mustard flavouring. It is the source of 'brown mustard', a prepared mustard that is milder than that produced from other species. Pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed - an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild bitter mustard. Black mustard comes from B. nigra and white mustard from Sinapis alba. The seed is also used whole in curries and pickles. They are often heated in oil to destroy their pungency and give them a nutty flavour. Sprouted seeds can be added to salads. Plants produce swellings on the stem, these can be cooked or pickled.

Oil: Oil

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Medicine

Rating: 2

Reported to be anodyne, aperitif, diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, and stimulant, the plant is a folk remedy for arthritis, foot ache, lumbago, and rheumatism. The seed is used in the treatment of tumours in China. In Korea, the seeds are used in the treatment of abscesses, colds, lumbago, rheumatism, and stomach disorders. The root is used as a galactagogue in Africa. Ingestion may impart a body odour repellent to mosquitoes. Mustard oil is used in the treatment of skin eruptions and ulcers. Believed to be aperient and tonic, the volatile oil is used as a counterirritant and stimulant. In Java the plant is used as an antisyphilitic emmenagogue. Leaves applied to the forehead are said to relieve headache. The Chinese eat the leaves in soups for bladder, inflammation or haemorrhage.

Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.

Antiarthritic: Treats arthritis.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Antitumor: Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer. Probably synonymous with Cytotoxic.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Emetic: Induces vomiting.

Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.

Foot care: Plants that are used in various ways to treat foot problems.

Galactogogue: Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Rubefacient: A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.

Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 2

Other uses rating: Low (2/5). Agroforestry Uses: There is some evidence that if this plant is grown as a green manure it is effective in reducing soil-borne root rots in pea crops. This is attributed to chemicals that are given off as the plants decay. Other Uses None known

Green manure: Fast-growing plants that can be used to increase the fertility of the soil.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.

Soil reclamation: Plants that can be grown in such circumstances an the spoil tips of mines in order to restore fertility.

How it is grown

Originating from the central Asian Himalayas to China, the plant has long been cultivated and many forms have been developed that can be grown from the temperate to the tropical zones. Succeeds in full sun in most well-drained moisture-retentive fertile soils. Prefers a heavy soil and some shade. Dislikes very hot weather. Plants tolerate high rainfall and, although fairly deep rooted, are not very drought resistant. A form of B. Juncea that has been selected in the Orient for its edible swollen stem, there are many named varieties. Plants are reasonably cold-tolerant. They prefer a fairly high stable temperature and are well adapted to short day length. Plants have a rooting depth of between 90 - 120 cm. A good bee plant.

Propagating it: Seed - sow in situ from August to October. Spring and early summer-sown crops tend to run quickly to seed, though they can be eaten whilst still small. It is best not to sow the seed in very hot weather. There are about 5,660 - 6,000 per 0.01 kg (1/3 oz).

Best place to grow:

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 6-10

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Swollen-stem mustard, Brassica juncea. Other Names: Big-stem mustard, Swollen-stem mustard, Za-tsai.

Synonyms

Brassica juncea var. tsatsai ined.;