🍱 Manba no Kenchan

“Manba no Ken-chan” is a representative dish of Kagawa Prefecture's local cuisine, particularly during the winter months. Manba, a type of mustard green, is in season from October to April and is known for its unique bitterness. It is cultivated throughout the prefecture, and can even be seen in backyard gardens. The name "Manba" means "ten thousand leaves." The plant was given this name because it continues to sprout new leaves even after the outer ones are harvested. It is also referred to "Senba" or "Hyakkan," which also carry similar meanings. The dish is known as "Manba" in the Eastern Sanuki region, and known as "Hyakka" or "Hakka," a variation of the name “Hyakkan” in the Western Sanuki region. During the winter, when vegetables are scarce, the manba plant grows large leaves of deep green or dark purple, becoming tender and sweeter after being exposed to frost multiple times. It's also highly nutritious and rich in vitamin C. “Ken-chan” is said to be a corruption of the name "Kenchin," which is a stir-fry of finely chopped vegetables with tofu. In the Western Sanuki region, the tofu is likened to snow, giving it the name "Hyakka no Yukibana" (Snowflake of Hyakka).