The price-value anomaly is obvious to consumers as they hasten to buy Chinese freshwater bargains. Indeed, pearls from freshwater mussels lie at the center of the liveliest activity in pearling today.

Nevertheless, they all share a spectacular crunchiness, which makes them ideal for winter salads like the one below from Iron Chef and Asian-pear aficionado Masaharu Morimoto. --Robin Raisfeld ...

Eiko Moon-Yamamoto (pictured) shares the role of Afong Moy with Joann Wu in “The Chinese Lady” at the Pear Theatre. Photo by Sinjin Jones. In 1834, 14-year-old Afong Moy was brought from China ...