How to preserve fresh osmanthus

Osmanthus is a flower that blooms in autumn. Osmanthus is not only fragrant and ornamental, but also has certain therapeutic value. Various foods can be made with osmanthus, such as osmanthus wine dumplings, osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root, etc. Of course, certain methods need to be taken to preserve fresh osmanthus, otherwise it will easily rot. So, how to preserve fresh osmanthus?

1. Cryopreservation

If you want the osmanthus to remain in bloom and still be fresh when you take it out, pick out the dirt when you just pick it, then put it in a fresh-keeping bag, tie the bag tightly, and put it in the freezer for quick freezing. This way, no matter when you take it out, the osmanthus flowers will look fresh.

However, this preservation method is not perfect. Because fresh osmanthus cannot be eaten directly, the tannin content in it makes it very astringent and lacks fragrance. It must be cooked to be less astringent and more fragrant, but freezing does not achieve the effect of cooking.

2. Make dried osmanthus

Dry the fresh osmanthus flowers in an oven or microwave, or use quicklime to absorb the moisture, then put them into a plastic bag or glass bottle and seal them for storage.

It is recommended that you use quicklime to absorb moisture as much as possible. The dried osmanthus made in this way will have a strong fragrance and the color will not change.

Specific steps:

1. Pick out impurities from the fresh osmanthus flowers, but never wash them with water. If you really have to wash it, you can use a flower sprinkler to rinse the fresh osmanthus flowers, control the water and then blow dry them with a hair dryer. Never put the osmanthus flowers in the sun to dry.

2. Take enough quicklime blocks and place them at the bottom of the container. Cover them with a layer of plastic paper. Then take a large piece of paper and place it into the container. The paper should completely cover the bottom and sides of the container. This is mainly to prevent direct contact between osmanthus and quicklime. The amount of quicklime blocks used is about twice the weight of fresh osmanthus, the more the better.

3. After finishing, sprinkle the fresh osmanthus flowers into the container, then seal the container tightly for 1 to 2 days. Open it and take a look. The fresh osmanthus flowers have become very dry and crisp, without losing their fragrance or changing color.

3. Make Osmanthus Wine

Marinate fresh osmanthus flowers with sugar for a few days, wait for them to ferment, then pour them into white wine and seal them for storage. After 2 or 3 years, you can drink the fragrant osmanthus wine.

Specific method: Ingredients: 500 grams of fresh osmanthus, 2000 grams of 35-degree rice wine. Auxiliary ingredients: 50 grams of osmanthus pulp, 10 grams of white ginseng, 100 grams of red dates, and 200 grams of white sugar.

step:

1. Place the osmanthus flowers in a ventilated and cool place and spread them out to air dry overnight. Then add four ounces of white sugar (powdered rock sugar is best) for every kilogram of osmanthus flowers, mix well, and put them into a wine can (container) to allow them to ferment for two to three days.

2. Add 50 grams of osmanthus pulp, 10 grams of white ginseng and 100 grams of red dates to the fermented osmanthus. If you like it sweeter, you can add some sugar.

3. Prepare an empty jar, put in osmanthus, osmanthus pulp, white ginseng, red dates, add four to five pounds of rice wine or sorghum wine with a concentration of more than 35%, and seal it.

4. After three months, you can drink it.