What is this?

• A fast-growing aquatic plant that is part of the cabbage family
• It can be eaten cooked or raw and is often found in salads, sandwiches and soups
• The plant is cultivated before flower buds appear or else the leaves become too rank in flavour for consumption
• Watercress is not normally found in dried form and therefore can only be stored for a short period of time – ideally, it is consumed fresh
• This plant is available all year round

How do I prepare it?

• Wash in cold salted water at least twice to remove potential pesticides and parasites

Where can I buy this?

• You are able to purchase fresh watercress from most supermarkets
• It is a highly perishable food and needs to be consumed within a few days of purchase

What is the cost?

• Watercress is very affordable and costs around $1.00 – $2.00 per bundle

Any benefits?

• Watercress is high in iron, calcium, folic acid, and Vitamins A & C
• When boiled in soup, it assists in removing heatiness and relieves coughs
• Western studies have found that watercress may reduce the risk of cancer

Any precautions?

• Watercress tends to grow in areas of high animal waste and is good breeding grounds for parasites and bacteria, therefore it is highly recommended to thoroughly wash watercress before consumption
• Be sure to add watercress to BOILING water, else it will make the watercress bitter
• Flowering watercress is also bitter, so buy young and flowerless watercress to reduce the chance of bitterness in the soup

Resources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watercress
• http://www.watercress.com/