Where to find ya cai (preserved mustard green leaves and stems)?

[AmySherman]

I have been to Sunset Supermarket, New May Wah and various spots in Chinatown but cannot find it anywhere. It's an ingredient used in Fuschia Dunlop's latest cookbook. I can find lots of other preserved vegetables including zha cai and Tianjin. No one in any of the stores has been able to help, at New May Wah they said restaurants request it but they haven't carried it in years. Has anyone bought it or seen it locally?

[oranj]

Not really a direct answer, but Andrea Nguyen recently posted about it on her blog. http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/...

She lives in the bay area. She might be willing to tell you where she bought it if you write her a note.

[hyperbowler]

No luck at Pacific supermarket or Manila Market.

[hyperbowler]

Were you able to get it anywhere? I'll try 99 Ranch and Pacific Super at some point, but none of the places along Clement have it.

[possumspice]

There are several varieties available in the refrigerated pickled vegetable section at Nijiya in JTown.

[Melanie Wong]

Here's a thread on the LA board that mentions some of the brands available in this country and suggests looking for them in pouches in the refrigerated section.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/840489

[singleguychef]

I think "ya cai" is different than the pickled mustard greens in the refrigerated section. I don't think "ya cai" is sour. Isn't it usually in the can like "zha cai"?

[possumspice]

Tastes just like it to me. Not sour. I am referring to the refrigerated section by the kimchee etc, not the area in the front with the sushi. Label on back says mustard leaf or alternately mustard leaf and root.