Which plants can be used as spices, and what are the natural plant flavors

Our common ones are: wormwood, tea, cloves.

In general, natural flavors are divided into three categories: plant, animal, and mineral.

There are more than 500 kinds of plant spices, which can be divided into floral (rose, jasmine, osmanthus, etc.), vanilla (lemongrass, tonka, wormwood, etc.), resin (Suhe, myrrh, frankincense, borneol, amber, etc.), edible (pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, etc.), woody (sandalwood, Zhenzhen, cypress, etc.); Among the flowering plants, there is a category of aromatic plants, and their flowers, leaves, stems, and fruits can exude a unique and rich fragrance. This aromatic scent not only refreshes people after smelling it, relieves fatigue, but also has a bactericidal effect. Therefore, these aromatic flowers are natural plant materials for extracting essential oils or fragrance extracts.

China is very rich in aromatic plant resources, and there are about 300 species of plants that can provide aromatic oil.

The common ones are jasmine, white orchid, pearl orchid, osmanthus, orchid, lotus, plum blossom, plum, gardenia, smiling, generational, black red moon, rose, orange blossom, caryophyllus, cloves, narcissus, musk lily, lavender, perfume grass, geranium, tuberose, etc. These flowers all have a strong and tangy aroma. Their aromatic smell is due to the volatile aromatic substances in their flowers – known in industry as aromatic oils or essential oils.

The reason why fragrant flowers can volatilize their aroma is due to the accumulation of aromatic natural organic compounds in their special glandular cells or epithelial cells or intercellular spaces, which are aromatic oils. As the flowers gradually open, these aromatic oil molecules continue to evaporate. Such as jasmine, orchid, rose, plum blossom, plum, etc., this kind of fragrant flower is called "temperament flower", its aroma is the strongest when it has just opened, and the aromatic oil molecules volatilize the most; In the case of immature flower buds, aromatic oil molecules have not yet been fully formed; Flowers that have been in bloom for a period of time lose their aromatic smell when the aromatic oil molecules are released and volatilized as the flowers open.

There is also a type of aromatic oil that is present in the petals in a free state, and they evaporate for a longer time, but as the flowers gradually wither, the aroma will be depleted. Such as white orchid, pearl orchid, Milan, generations, etc., this kind of fragrant flower is called "physique flower". Regardless of the type of volatile type, these aromatic flowers are excellent natural raw materials for extracting natural essential oils.

The aromatic oil in fragrant flowers is a mixture of various organic compounds.

Jasmine is reported to contain 48 organic chemical components. These chemicals are processed and distilled, and their oil recovery rates are only; Another example is that rose essence contains a variety of organic chemical components, and its essential oil content only accounts for that of roses.

How do you extract natural aromatic oils from very small amounts of fragrant flowers? At present, the main processing methods for industrial extraction of essential oils are steam distillation, volatile solvent extraction and pressing. Due to the large amount of equipment required to extract essential oils, coupled with the delicate and complex operation process, the yield rate is very low, so the value of the product is very expensive.

For example, the value of 1 kilogram of essential oil in the international market is equivalent to kilogram**.

Plant spices in natural spices are more common, it is mostly flowers, fruits, leaves and branches of aromatic plants, as well as bark, underground stems, these substances have plant essential oils and a large number of aromatic substances, the most common plant natural spices in life are fennel, star anise, pepper and cinnamon, as well as bay leaves, angelica and so on.

Different regions produce different kinds of spices, and the secret of seasoning lies in how to use the characteristics of natural spices to blend a unique taste and make the seasoning taste more outstanding

1. Enhance flavor and fragrance.

Flavor enhancement is one of the important roles of natural spices, usually people make stews, braised vegetables or kimchi, can add the right amount of spices, they can enhance the flavor and freshness, can make the finished dish more attractive. In addition, many plant spices can also dispel fishiness and greasyness, they can make the fishy smell of some meat ingredients disappear, and there will be no greasy feeling after cooking.

2. Antiseptic and sterilization.

Natural spices contain some natural medicinal ingredients, they can reduce inflammation and sterilize and inhibit the reproduction of bacteria. In addition to these effects, they can also be used in medicine, natural spices such as pepper, star anise and fennel, can dispel wind, dampness and dredge the meridians, they have a certain preventive and relieving effect on human rheumatism, bone pain and arthritis.

For example, black pepper, which is native to Southeast Asia and South India, is now mostly produced in Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan and other places, and its fruit has a spicy and strong taste, removing the smell and enhancing the taste, and it is one of the first spices that people know about the use of.

Angelica dahurica, also known as aromatic, big work, walking celery, fragrant big life, mostly grows in the understory, shrubs, produced in the southwest, northeast and north of China, smells fragrant and sweet, tastes spicy in the mouth, and has a slightly bitter taste. Angelica angelica has the edible effects of reducing swelling and draining pus, removing dampness and driving away cold, dispelling wind and whitening.

Grass fruit has a peculiar and strong spicy fragrance, can get rid of the fishy smell, add the sweetness of the herbs and trees, cook fish, meat and poultry products, especially meat, can get rid of the smell of beef and mutton, and also have the function of eliminating food and stomach, bad breath, and is also known as one of the "five spices" of seasoning.

1. Xinwen spice plant: It mainly includes pepper, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, known as the eight items, suitable for making sauces, snacks, melon seeds, etc., its drinking range is very wide, very in line with the mass consumer. The single-amount five-spice powder sold in the market is mainly made with cumin and crushed cinnamon, while the content of cloves and star anise is very small, and there is no fragrance to use.

The main materials used in spices are star anise and cinnamon, while the others are auxiliary materials.

2. Strong flavor spices: add imported bay leaves, cardamom, nutmeg, Xin Geng, and fragrant sand to the general spices, so as to process a fragrance, which is very delicious compared to sausages, braised meat, barbecue and other foods.

3. Nourishing spices: using angelica, monk fruit, salvia, gastrodia, cinnamon to make auxiliary spices, and then using hen, dog meat, and furniture as condiments has a very good tonic effect, which can help aphrodisiac and tonify the kidney, nourish the qi, enhance human immunity, and so on.

4. Spicy spices: It is based on five spices, and then added cardamom, grass fruit, long pepper, dry pure ginger, call, Qingchuan pepper, good ginger and so on. In the process of making, some chili peppers are added, which enhances the spiciness and horsetail, and the use is varied.

Fry the peppercorns and peppercorns in hot oil, then wait until the aroma comes out, then grind them into a powder and then add them to the water and boil them together.

5. Strange flavor spices: The use of Qingchuan pepper, eucommia, millennium, kaempfera, wood, nutmeg, grass coward, grass fruit, five plus peel, etc. and spiced spices are added to the water to boil together, and the taste of the round teaser is very fresh and natural, giving people a special feeling.

Natural flavors are fragrance substances that are transported from the plant and can be used directly. However, it is important to note that different natural flavors have different characteristics and uses, and they need to be selected and used according to the specific situation. In addition, natural flavors also need to be properly processed and handled to ensure their safety and stability.

Summary. Natural flavors are plant-based flavors, can they be used directly?

I'm sorry I don't understand, but can you elaborate on that?

Natural flavors are fragrance substances derived from natural plants, such as vanilla, spice plants, fruits, etc. Natural flavors can be used in many fields such as cooking, flavoring, making cosmetics, perfumes, and more. Natural flavors may need to be processed to achieve the best results.

For example, certain spices need to be processed into powders or essential oils before they can be added to food or other items. In addition, some spices need to be mixed with other substances to make products such as flavorings or perfumes. In general, natural flavors can be directly used in food, cosmetics, etc., but they also need to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.

If you are unsure about the use of natural flavors, it is recommended to refer to the instructions for use or consult a professional. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to safety and hygiene issues when using natural flavors to avoid food poisoning, allergies and other accidents.