Monosodium glutamate. This is used as a flavour enhancer in Chinese and Japanese cookery but should be used sparingly. In Chinese markets it may be called mei jiung.

Monosodium glutamate. This is used as a flavour enhancer in Chinese and Japanese cookery but should be used sparingly. In Chinese markets it may be called mei jiung.

Prickly pear. The delicious but risky fruit of a cactus. The sweet, juicy flesh ripens from green to a deep apricot-pink colour. It is sensible to use leather gloves when dealing with these fruit as they are covered in fine, penetrating prickles. They are normally eaten raw but can be cooked, with the edible seeds becoming hard with cooking.