Nutritional value and eating methods of willow buds

Willow buds, also known as willow or green willow, are a kind of tree that grows in the Yangtze River Basin and North China and Northeast China. It is a deciduous tree, and the tender shoots that grow in spring can be eaten by humans. However, many people in life don’t know much about the nutritional value of willow buds, and don’t know how to eat them. For this reason, the editor here makes a special introduction to willow buds, so that everyone can have a comprehensive understanding of its nutritional value and how to eat it.

Nutritional value and eating methods of willow buds

1. Nutritional value of willow buds

Willow buds are a wild food ingredient with particularly high nutritional value. They contain some natural salicin and tannins, as well as a variety of trace elements. Among them, the content of trace element iodine is the most outstanding, which can meet the body's organs' needs for iodine when they work normally, and can also be used as an auxiliary treatment for some iodine deficiency diseases.

2. Willow buds can be used to make tea

Making tea is one of the common ways to eat willow buds. Every spring, you can harvest fresh willow buds, dry them, and seal them for storage. When needed, take out about three grams and put them in a teacup, pour in boiling water and brew for a while, then cool it down and drink it directly instead of tea. If you are afraid of bitterness, you can also add a small amount of rock sugar for flavoring during brewing.

3. Willow buds can be served cold

Using willow buds as salad is also a good way to eat them. When making it, you can blanch the fresh willow buds in boiling water, remove the water after blanching, and then add appropriate amount of edible salt, mashed garlic and balsamic vinegar, mix well and eat it directly. In addition, you can wash the willow buds, coat them with flour and fry them directly in a pan. After frying, they are golden and crispy, and they are also delicious.