China's State television platform CCTV recently aired a video about Chinese astronauts enjoying food on the space station and the potherb mustard they ate was provided by Dongling Lake Vegetable Plant in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province.

Jiang Huiyun, director of Dongling Lake Vegetable Plant, said that it's not the first time that their potherb mustard has been brought to space with Chinese astronauts.

As early as 2016 when the Shenzhou XI manned space flight was successfully launched, Dongling Lake-produced potherb mustard along with other food was made into the first meal of Chinese astronauts in space.

After entering space, astronauts' digestive system and sense of taste will be affected by weight loss, changed circadian rhythm, as well as cosmic radiation. As a result, they favor food with complex flavors.

Refreshing and appetizing potherb mustard can help add more flavor to astronauts' diets.

Jiang said that their potherb mustard is tested many times before it is seen on the menu of Chinese astronauts.

The Beijing Aerospace Food Research Institute tested the ingredients of the potherb mustard and then made a slight adjustment according to astronauts' tastes. The food is also required to be vacuum packed with an aluminium foil bag.

Dongling Lake-branded potherb mustard has been exhibited at the China International Agricultural Trade Fair for 13 years and it has also been exported to the United States, South Korea, Australia, as well as Thailand.

Potherb mustard grown at Dongling Lake Vegetable Plant in Jiaxing. [Photo/cnjxol.com]