Burdock

Burdock is a group of plants (typically Arctium lappa), which are cultivated worldwide. The taproot of young burdock plants is eaten as a root vegetable across East Asia. It is known as gobō in Japanese, niúbàng in Chinese, and u-eong in Korean. The root is crisp and sweet, with a earthy or pungent flavor that is often reduced by soaking shredded or sliced roots in water. When preparing burdock, it should be scrubbed rather than peeled because the flavor is strongest close to the surface.