Spring returns to the earth, everything revives, and it is time to enjoy the flowers. People are always attracted by the blooming flowers in spring, whether walking along a country lane or walking in a city park, they can always be intoxicated by the scene of flowers. And you know what? Many beautiful flowers can not only be viewed, but also edible, and even have good nutritional value.
Nowadays, with the improvement of people’s living standards, edible flowers are gradually accepted by more people, such as osmanthus cake, locust flower cake, chrysanthemum tea and other flower foods have also entered the homes of ordinary people. So, what are some common edible flowers? What nutritional value do they have?
1. Osmanthus Flower: A Regular Guest Of Traditional Cuisine
Osmanthus flower is one of the ten famous traditional flowers in China, the cultivation history of more than 2500 years, as early as the Spring and Autumn period, “the Book of Mountains and Seas” recorded that “the mountain of glory, its laurel”. Qu Yuan’s “Nine Songs”, there are also “aid Beidou Xi drink laurel pulp, Xinyi car Xi knot laurel flag” verses. It can be seen that osmanthus has been loved by people since ancient times.
Osmanthus clear can be dust, thick can be far overflow, can be called a unique. In the autumn, when the laurel is in full bloom, the night is quiet and round, the wine is appreciated, and the fragrance is tangy and refreshing. In addition to its high ornamental value, osmanthus flower is a natural ingredient that is widely used in a variety of traditional cuisines. Such as osmanthus cake, which originated in the late Qing Dynasty, has a history of more than 300 years, is made of glutinous rice flour, sugar and honey osmanthus as raw materials into a delicious pastry, Chinese characteristics of traditional snacks. It has a long history, delicious and refreshing, simple practice, and a variety of types to meet people’s various needs for taste.
Osmanthus wine is the selection of autumn blooming golden laurel as the raw material, with high-quality rice wine aging, with golden color, fragrant, sweet and sour taste characteristics, praised as “cinnamon fragrance, alcohol and beautiful taste”. In addition, people will also dry osmanthus flowers, used to drink tea or make osmanthus paste, so that the fragrance of the four seasons.
Osmanthus is not only delicious, but also has certain medicinal value. “Compendium of Materia Medica” records that osmanthus can “cure all diseases, nourish the spirit, and color, and be the first to be employed as a doctor of various medicines.” Long wear light body is not old, face bright, Mei good often like a boy.” Modern medicine has also confirmed that osmanthus flower for halitosis, wind fire toothache, stomach heat toothache and caries toothache has a certain effect, but also can relieve cough and phlegm, warm stomach and liver, dispel cold break knot, fresh breath and beauty.
2. Locust Flowers: Sweet Memories Of Homesickness
Locust flowers, the flowers and buds of the leguminous plant locust, bloom in April and May every year, and the flowering period is generally about 10-15 days. When the bloom season, a string of white locust flowers covered with branches, the air filled with a subtle elegant fragrance, refreshing the heart.
Locust flowers not only have ornamental value, but also a rare delicacy. Sophora flower is fragrant and sweet, rich in vitamins and minerals. It also has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood and moistening lung, lowering blood pressure and preventing stroke.
There are many ways to eat locust flowers, the most common of which is the locust flower cake. Wash the locust flowers, add flour, egg, water and salt, stir well, and then fry them in a pan. The resulting locust cake is not only golden in color and attractive, but also soft and sweet in taste, leaving people with endless aftertaste.
In addition to locust flower cake, locust flower can also be used to make dumplings, steamed buns, bake locust flower egg cake, make locust flower congee, or make locust flower tea, locust flower soup, etc., the taste is very good. In addition, sophora flowers can also be used as a side dish, fried with eggs, meat, etc., to add the aroma and taste of dishes.
When I was a child, every time the sophora blossom season, my mother would take us to pick sophora flowers, and then go home to make us sophora cake to eat, the kind of sweet taste has made me unforgettable. The pagoda cake not only carries my childhood memories, but also carries my mother’s love for us.
3. Chrysanthemum: The Hermit In The Flower “Cross-Border” Interpretation
Chrysanthemum, one of the four gentlemen in the flower, is loved by literati and writers for its noble, tough and indifferent character. Since ancient times, chrysanthemum has been endowed with rich cultural connotation and symbolic significance, and has become one of the symbols of the Chinese national spirit.
And you know what? Chrysanthemum is not only ornamental, but also a very nutritious food. Chrysanthemum is rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements, and has the effects of clearing liver and brightening eyes, clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing inflammation and relieving pain.
The most common way to eat chrysanthemum is to drink tea. The dry chrysanthemum with boiling water, adding an appropriate amount of honey or wolfberry, not only can clear the heat, but also refresh the mind, is the summer summer to quench thirst.
In addition to making tea, chrysanthemum can also be used to cook porridge, stew soup, make cakes and so on. Chrysanthemum Congee is a traditional Chinese dessert cooked with chrysanthemum and glutinous rice. It has a soft, fragrant taste and is ideal for autumn. Chrysanthemum cake is a traditional Cantonese pastry made of chrysanthemum, glutinous rice flour, sugar and other raw materials. It has a delicate and sweet taste and is one of the special cuisines in Guangdong.
In addition, in some places, people will also cook chrysanthemum with other ingredients, such as chrysanthemum scrambled eggs, chrysanthemum fried meat, etc., which not only increases the aroma and taste of dishes, but also has a certain health care effect.
4. Roses: Romantic And Delicious “Encounter”
Roses, a symbol of love and romance, are the most beautiful flowers in many people’s hearts. And you know what? Not only can roses be used to express love, but they are also an extremely nutritious ingredient.
The rose is rich in vitamin C, vitamin P, carotene, amino acids, calcium, iron and other nutrients, with the effect of soothing the liver, eliminating depression, promoting blood and relieving pain. Roses can also promote blood circulation, relieve dysmenorrhea, regulate endocrine, for women is a very good maintenance products.
Roses can be eaten in many ways, the most common of which is rose tea. The dry rose petals with boiling water, adding an appropriate amount of honey or red dates, not only can beauty, but also relieve fatigue, is the heart of female friends.
In addition to making tea, roses can also be used to make a variety of delicious pastries, desserts and sauces. Such as rose flower cake, it uses fresh roses as filling, with crisp crust, taste sweet and delicious, let people endless aftertaste. In addition, people will also mash rose petals, add sugar, honey and other raw materials to make rose paste, used to spread bread or eat with yogurt, the taste is very unique.
In some high-end restaurants, chefs will also use rose petals with other ingredients to create a variety of creative dishes, such as rose shrimp balls, rose grilled fish, etc., not only to fill people’s mouths, but also to feel the romantic atmosphere of roses.
5. Peach Blossom: The “Sweet” Temptation Of Peach Blossom
Peach blossoms, one of the most beautiful scenery in spring, are loved by people for their delicate flowers and romantic connotations. And you know what? Peach blossoms are not only ornamental, but also a very nutritious food.
Peach blossom is rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements, which has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, beautifying and nourishing the skin, moistening the bowel and so on. Peach blossom can also promote metabolism, regulate endocrine, for women is a very good beauty food.
There are relatively few ways to eat peach blossoms, the most common being peach blossom wine and peach blossom porridge. The fresh peach blossom petals are washed and dried, and then add an appropriate amount of white wine and rock sugar to seal and soak for a period of time, you can brew a sweet peach blossom wine. Peach blossom wine taste mellow, with a light peach blossom aroma, very suitable for women to drink.
Peach blossom porridge is a very healthy porridge. Wash peach blossoms and cook with glutinous rice. Add proper amount of rock sugar to taste. Peach blossom porridge taste sweet soft waxy, not only can beauty, but also can moisten the bowel, very suitable for spring food.
Conclusion
It should be noted that not all flowers are suitable for consumption, and some flowers may contain toxic ingredients, so it is necessary to choose the right variety when eating flowers, and understand its eating methods and precautions. In addition, for people with allergies, it is best to have an allergy test before eating flowers to avoid allergic reactions.
