Taste of Yunnan: delicious roses

Wake up and smell the roses, a beloved ingredient in Yunnanese food.

In Yunnan, flowers are an important food ingredient. Roses are particularly popular because of their sweet flavor, pleasant fragrance and nutritional benefits.

1. Rose Cake

Rose cakes are a favorite Yunnan classic. A puff pastry filled with fresh rose petals, it’s scrumptious with the flower’s original fragrance.

2. Rose Jam

Rose jam and rose juice [Image Credit: xinhuanet.com]

Rose jam is nutritious and said to be good for the liver and spleen, alleviating many chronic illnesses including gastritis, articular rheumatism and bronchitis. Locals regard it as an indispensable addition to their meals.

3. Rose Candy

Rose candy [Image Credit: xinhuanet.com]

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t skip the rose candy. The lovely color and taste will surely awaken your lovely mood.

4. Rose hotpot

Rose hotpot [Image Credit: xinhuanet.com]

We know you’ve heard of romantic rose hot baths, but have you ever heard about rose hotpots? In Honghe (红河), Yunnan — a rose-growing area, it is a typical dish. Other ingredients include bacon and diced carrots. You will surely have another bowl of rice with the dish because of its unique flavor.

5. Fried Rose Petals