What is Osmanthus?

So my dear people.. what is Osmanthus le?? For those of you who managed to find out, good for you. For those of you who are slow.. here you go..



Osmanthus fragrans (Sweet Osmanthus; Chinese: 木樨 mùxī; Japanese: 金木犀 kinmokusei; also known as Sweet Olive, Tea Olive and Fragrant Olive) is a species of Osmanthus native to Asia, from the Himalaya east through southern China (Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan) to southern Japan.



Sweet osmanthus is also the 'city flower' of Hangzhou, China.


It is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 3–12 m tall. The leaves are 7–15 cm long and 2.6–5 cm broad, with an entire or finely toothed margin. The flowers are white, pale yellow, yellow, or orange-yellow, small (1 cm long), with a four-lobed corolla 5 mm diameter, and have a strong fragrance; they are produced in small clusters in the late summer and autumn. The fruit is a purple-black drupe 10–15 mm long containing a single hard-shelled seed; it is mature in the spring about six months after flowering.



So what's the big deal here? Ok it's a plant and the city flower of Hangzhou? So??



In Chinese, the plant is called xī (樨) or mùxī (木樨), and its flowers, called guì huā (桂花, literally "cinnamon flower" or "cassia flower") are used, infused with green or black tea leaves, to create a scented tea called guì huā chá (桂花茶).


In Chinese cuisine, the flowers are also used to produce osmanthus-scented jam (called guì huā jiàng, 桂花醬 or 桂花酱), sweet cakes (called guì huā gāo, 桂花糕), dumplings, soups, and even liquor (called guì huā jiǔ, 桂花酒; or 桂花陈酒, guì huā chén jiǔ).[1] Osmanthus jam is used as an ingredient in a type of gruel called chátāng (茶汤), which is made from sorghum or millet flour and sugar mixed with boiling water. This dish is typical of the northern city of Tianjin, although it may also be found in Beijing.
(source: Wikipedia)


So Get IT???? Osmanthus is the scientific name for Kui Hua which is the name of my mother, your mother and your grandmother!!! Ha Ha Ha got you all this time didn't I??

I remember when i was very young (in my primary school years), she was so hurt when people in the family (our dad's family to be more specific) made fun of her name. Now when i told her the real meaning of her name, she nonchalantly said Oh.. She has reached the age where she doesn't care anymore about what people said le..

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