Every year when spring comes, Guangzhou is filled with blossom and fresh green leaves, becoming a vast sea of flowers. Surely one of the reasons why people fall in love with Guangzhou!
However, a lesser known fact is that Guangdongers often turn flowers into all kinds of delicious dishes!
Some of the flowers not only look delightful, but also are delicious and are considered to have medicinal value.
Kapok
The Kapok is the flower of Guangzhou. It is said that ‘they look like clouds on fire when in full bloom’. Living in Canton, it's hard to miss these beautiful flowers.
Kapok flowers are usually picked up when they fall (the trees are exceedingly tall) and then dried in the sun. The dried flower head is said to be effective in cleaning away the inner heat and dampness in human bodies and improving immunity, according to traditional medicine.
Soup of kapok flower, herbs and pork.
Soup of kapok flower, red beans and pig bones.
Soup of kapok flower, seed of Job's tears(yimi) and carp.
Soup of kapok flower, purple perilla and pork.
Cape jasmine
Cold cape jasmine in sauce.
Soup of cape jasmine and pork
Pumpkin flower
Fried pumpkin flowers with eggs
Deep fried pumpkin flowers
Soup of pumpkin flowers and tomato
Banana flower
Fried cake with banana flowers and eggs
Pitaya flower
Fresh pitaya flower
Dried Pitaya flower
Soup of pitaya flower and quail
Soup of pitaya flower and pig bones
Jasmine
Fried jasmine with eggs
Sweet-scented osmanthus
A popular ingredient used as a garnish main dishes
Barbecue pork chops with sweet-scented osmanthus
Jelly mixed with sweet-scented osmanthus
Chrysanthemum
Fried chrysanthemum with vegetables
Author: Sylvia
Editor: Simon