In Thailand, Dendrobian flowers are dipped in batter and deep-fried. In Europe, many chefs garnish cakes and desserts with beautiful orchid petals. Hawaiians have been making salad dishes and sugar-coated orchid candies for decades. Orchids are becoming a popular garnish to drinks served in upscale restaurants, as well as offering a burst of color to salads and lending their unique flavor to cuisine sauces.
The flavor depends on the genus of orchid used and also what part of the plant is being consumed. Since the birth of civilization, the search for edible things has brought us the weirdest culinary delights, such as snails and insects. The common question I found about eating orchids is what can be eaten and how.
The answer is basically easy. If you are not picky, actually every part of the orchid that can be chewed and swallowed can be eaten. But the most favorite part of the plant that people eat is the flower. Aside from vanilla being the most recognized orchid that can be eaten, orchid flowers have been a part of the diet of people long before any of them found their way to cakes and cocktail drinks.
They eat them as salads and as candies. Singaporeans also use orchid flowers as a part of a stir-fried dish mixed with vegetables and meat. In Turkey and the Middle East, they use orchid bulbs as flavoring in ice cream. People of South Africa use orchid tubers to flavor meat sauces. As a matter of fact because of this demand, the existence of the African orchids is now being threatened. The taste is described to be ranging from bitter to sweet depending on the kind of orchid.
Basically since no orchid is poisonous, all orchids are edible. They are also rich in fiber that is good for digestion and Vitamin C to boost the immune system. To be on the safe side, the Orchids are first dried and then steeped in hot water for making tea. In other type of cuisine, the flowers may be battered and deep-fried and stir-fried with other ingredients. So, even though these flowers form a delicious treat for your taste buds, you should exercise caution while eating. While most of the common species of Orchid plants are non-toxic, it should not be forgotten that there are approximately , hybrids and crossbreeds.
Hence, it is recommended that you do not eat any part of an Orchid plant without doing sufficient research. If you bring home a household plant, find out the name of the species, whether it is a natural genetic plant or a cross-bred species.
While eating Orchids are not fatal for humans, they might cause irritation in the stomach, indigestion, or skin rashes. Edible flowers are not a new thing and they have been used for a long time in various ancient cuisines across the world. With more daring chefs trying to inculcate the blooms in more creative ways to attract adventurous eaters, they are gaining a lot more popularity these days.
Here are some other edible flowers other than Orchids you can expect to find on your plate. These flowers are not only adorable but also edible. In the Asian cuisine, all parts of the plant from flowers and buds to stalks, and root bulbs are considered delicious and safe to consume. You may add them to fresh salads for that extra color effect or use then for making fritters and stir-fries.
The tubers may be boiled as potatoes. Their refreshing appearance and sweet floral fragrance can make you go crazy. The flowers can be used both for garnishing and as a flavoring agent. In the ancient medicines, lilacs were also used for various diseases.
You have probably already heard about sunflower oil extracted from the seeds. Do you know that the petals may also be used for adding a grassy flavor to various dishes? The bright petals can add a dash of bright color to the salads. The stalks taste like celery and go well with hummus or peanut butter. The roots may be fried, roasted, steamed, or even consumed raw.
Tulips have a similar flavor like the Orchids and their cup-like shape make them perfect to be used as a container for packing ice cream or salad. If not treated with chemicals, the petals taste great and look great as garnishes too. Orchid plants are not only sought by many because of their disarming beauty.
They have been used by many cultures in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas for their medicinal values and edible quality. The ancient Greeks have a strong belief that eating the bulb of orchid plants can boost their sexual vigor and fertility. Orchids, particularly Dendrobium species , have been widely used in preparations of Japanese and Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of indigestion, headache, convulsions, and cancer.
Orchids, specifically the flower petals, are reportedly gives off that fresh and crisp flavor similar to leafy vegetables, such as endive or watercress. ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture has enumerated a variety yummy dishes orchids have been used in different parts of the world. Like many edible flowers, orchids are also generally used as an appetizing garnish for drinks and salad dishes. Ari Novy, the deputy executive director of U.
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