When to Harvest Osmanthus
This article provides a detailed introduction to the timing of osmanthus harvesting, methods of collection, and some tips for post-harvest handling. Let's explore these together.
Osmanthus is highly ornamental and has high medicinal value. It can be used to make tea, wine, medicine, and unique osmanthus-scented pastries and snacks, making it a favorite among osmanthus lovers. The usual market time for osmanthus is around October.
Osmanthus Harvesting Time
The blooming period of osmanthus is from September to October. The best time to harvest osmanthus is in late September or early October when the flowers are in full bloom, and the fresh flowers are just open, without withered ones.
Osmanthus Collection Method
Osmanthus flowers are small and the blooming period is short, making collection somewhat difficult. Moreover, at the beginning of the blooming period, the fragrance is mild, it becomes most fragrant in the middle stage, and by the full bloom stage, the fragrance evaporates, and the quality deteriorates. Therefore, the best time to harvest osmanthus is in the middle of the blooming period, 2-3 days after the flowers have opened.
When harvesting osmanthus, one can start from the outside and break off branches with more flowers, then carefully pick off the osmanthus flowers at home. Alternatively, one can spread a clean plastic sheet or blanket, shake the osmanthus tree to make the flowers fall onto the blanket, and then collect the fallen flowers.
Post-Harvest Handling of Osmanthus
Freshly harvested osmanthus should be cleared of impurities promptly and can then be sealed and refrigerated for storage. This method has the advantage of preserving the characteristics and fragrance of the flowers to the maximum extent, but the downside is that it cannot be stored for a long time.
In rural areas, people generally use the drying method to make dried osmanthus. Drying usually takes place in a dry, shaded area to avoid direct sunlight, which could cause the fragrance to evaporate. Alternatively, one can use a charcoal fire to directly bake and dehydrate the flowers to obtain dried osmanthus, which can then be sealed and frozen for long-term storage.
The above is a comprehensive explanation of the methods of osmanthus collection, harvesting time, and post-harvest handling. I hope it can serve as a starting point to solve your problems in life.
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