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The Soybean (Glycine max ssp. max) belongs to Fabaceae (the Pea family). It is an annual herb that is probably native to north-eastern China. This herb was introduced into Japan in Jomon Era (about 13,000 years ago). It can reach 30-90 cm in height, the leaves 3-lobed compound and alternate. The racemes are borne at the stem apices or axiles and bloom white and magenta papilionaceous flowers in summer. The fruits are cylindrical pods. The young seeds are used for boiled soybean, and the mature seeds provide the raw material for bean curd, deep-fried bean curd, fermented soybean, soy sauce, fermented soybean paste or Chinese bean oil. In Chinese, it is called "‘哤" (da dou).
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