Garlic is native to the region of southern Europe and central Asia. During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), Zhang introduced the species in the onion genus, Allium, to China. During ancient times in China, foreign tribes were referred to as "Hu troops", so garlic was originally referred to as "Hu garlic".
蒜原产于南欧和中亚,属洋葱科葱属植物,在西汉时期,由张骞带入中国。在古代中国,外国族群都被称为“胡人”,所以,蒜最开始也被称为“胡蒜”。
5. Coriander 香菜
Coriander(读音[ˌkɒriˈændə(r)]), known as cilantro(读音[sɪˈlæntroʊ]) or Chinese parsley, is native to the regions spanning from southern Europe to central Asia. Zhang brought the seeds of coriander into China, according to The Compendium of Materia Medica, an ancient Chinese book on herbology, which was written during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) by Doctor Li Shizhen.
香菜,也叫芫荽或中式西芹,原产于南欧到中亚的大片地区。据明代(1368-1644年)医师李时珍所著《本草纲目》记载,是张骞将香菜种子带入了中国。
6. Cucumber 黄瓜
Cucumber is originally from South Asia, on the southern foot of the Qomolangma Mountain. However, in Zhang's time, the cucumber was known as the "Hu melon".
黄瓜原产于南亚,珠穆朗玛峰南面的山脚地带。在张骞所在的时代,黄瓜被称为“胡瓜”。
7. Alfalfa 苜蓿
The alfalfa(读音[æl'fælfə]), also called lucerne(读音[luˈsɚn]), is an important forage crop in many countries around the world. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, by historian Sima Qian of the Han Dynasty, alfalfa was introduced into China from Dayuan following Zhang Qian's embassy.
苜蓿,也叫紫花苜蓿,是世界上很多国家重要的饲料作物。据汉代史学家司马迁所著《史记》记载,苜蓿是在张骞出使之后,从大宛引进到中国的。
8. Eggplant 茄子