Flower Banquet

Flower Banquet

　　  Flowers, beautiful and enchanting, are one of nature’s most wonderful gifts to humanity. Placing a few pots of flowers indoors brings a sense of comfort and warmth to any home. Their vibrant colors and intoxicating fragrances instantly wash away the fatigue of a long day’s work. Flowers planted in gardens along the streets create serene environments and visual delights for those out enjoying leisure time, but in my hometown of Yunnan, there is also a long-standing tradition of eating flowers.

    In early February, when beautiful purple and white magnolia flowers stand like thousands of jade cups on the branches, they quickly capture the affection of middle-aged and elderly people. They pick the magnolia flowers—either fresh or dried—and cook them with eggs to help prevent or treat dizziness and cold-induced headaches common among older adults. By early March, another local flower blooms—known as white flower or Rhododendron crassipes, also called white bean flower. The picked rhododendron flowers are generally not left overnight to avoid spoilage. Usually, on the same night, the edible flower petals are kept after removing the toxic stamens. The petals are boiled in water for a few minutes while fresh, then soaked in cold water for three to five days, with the water changed daily, to remove bitterness and toxins. These flowers are later used to make soups or cooked with broad beans, salted meat, or ham by boiling or stir-frying. The aroma of the ham mingling with the floral scent always makes one’s mouth water, and the taste lingers delightfully, making it hard to swallow.

    During the hot summer months, if a family hosts a gathering or banquet, you can be sure that steamed lily bulbs with meat will be on the table. The lily petals, layered like scales, are stuffed with minced meat and then reassembled to resemble their original stacked form—a truly colorful, fragrant, and delicious dish. Alongside the lily harvest, lotus flowers—the “gentleman of flowers,” modestly nestled in ponds and not competing with other blossoms—also quietly bloom. Both the lotus flower and leaf are fragrant and highly versatile, with every part—the flower, leaf, seed, and stem—having various culinary and medicinal uses. Even the humble lotus node is an effective remedy for vomiting blood. In my hometown, lotus flowers are often coated with dry starch and egg white, then pan-fried in sesame oil based on personal preference to create sweet or savory soft lotus pancakes, a true delicacy. As for the seeds and stems of the lotus, whether steamed or boiled, they satisfy the appetite while also helping to prevent and treat certain illnesses.

    “Alone it reigns supreme through autumn, outshining all other flowers—why boast of oranges green or tangerines yellow?” Osmanthus, known as the “Fragrant Immortal of Autumn,” also begins to perfume the air as golden autumn arrives.

    Every year starting in the lunar month of Winter, locals busy themselves harvesting rapeseed flowers from the fields. This is because during the annual custom of slaughtering the New Year’s pig, every household serves stir-fried meat with pickled rapeseed flowers—an unspoken tradition. The pickled rapeseed flowers have a tangy fragrance that whets the appetite, making them a top choice as a side dish, whether served cold or stir-fried with meat.

    “Drink the morning dew of spring orchids, and eat the fallen petals of autumn chrysanthemums.” Qu Yuan mentioned eating flowers in his poem “Li Sao.” In ancient times, the practice of consuming flowers was quite popular, and today it has become a widespread trend. In recent years, flower-based foods have also been gaining international popularity. Flowers contain large amounts of fats, carbohydrates, 22 types of amino acids, 18 vitamins, and 27 macro- and micro-elements. Especially noteworthy is a unique glycoside in pollen called anthocyanin, which has been proven to strengthen capillaries, lower cholesterol and triglycerides, thereby preventing cardiovascular diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage and retinal bleeding. So, while indulging your palate, you can also promote health and longevity.

    With the rising trend of flower consumption, I can almost see the bright, flower-filled future of Kunming.