Sweet-scented osmanthus 桂花

In her poem, Li Qingzhao from the Song Dynasty, described osmanthus as "light yellow, with a delicate figure, that only leaves fragrance behind; No need for bright greens and reds, the osmanthus is a flower destined to shine."

Planting sweet-scented osmanthus in China has a history of more than 2,500 years. Often blooming in August, the plant is also connected with Mid-Autumn Festival due to the fairy tale about a man named Wu Gang. Wu is ordered to cut down a large and strong osmanthus tree on the moon every day, yet the charmed tree never falls and has fragrant flowers each autumn. Wu is only allowed to have a rest for Mid-Autumn Festival.

The little yellow flowers are often added to porridge, cakes and tea to enhance the taste. In Guangxi province where many osmanthus trees are planted, the perfume produced by the flowers has become an important local specialty.

宋代女詞人李清照曾在詩中這樣描寫桂花：“暗淡輕黃體性柔。情疏跡遠只香留。何須淺碧深紅色，自是花中第一流。”

桂花在中國有2500多年的栽培歷史。桂花通常在八月盛開，還有一個和中秋節相關的典故：傳說吳剛因遭天帝懲罰到月宮砍伐桂樹，其樹隨砍隨合，以這種永無休止的勞動作為對吳剛的懲罰，只有在中秋節這一天吳剛才能休息。

這種香氣撲鼻的小黃花可加入粥、糕點和茶中提升口感。

點擊這里聽《江南桂花香》