”There are just north of 300 types of magnolia mainly trees and shrubs. The flowers have a fragrant aroma and a ginger-like flavour. Across the globe they are loved as they flower very early in the year. Here in the UK there’s a fair few varieties and hybrids often in gardens given their wonderful flowers looking splendid right now.
GeorgeFlavour Fred
The presence of magnolias (Magnoliaceae family) is recorded to be at least 20 million years old and fossilised plants belonging to this family have been identified to 95+ million years old being pollinated by beetle type insects (no bees, moths, or butterflies). Climbing into what foragers often call the magnolia “pineapple” which is parts of the flower that produces ovules and develop into the fruit and seeds.
It is an ornamental plant native to Asia, the Americas and the West Indies. Known for their large, fragrant, bowl- or star-shaped flowers with numerous spirally arranged reproductive parts, producing cone-like fruits in autumn that open to reveal seeds. Although there are a couple varieties that flower again in summer although a lot less than the volume you see coming into spring. Many people will use the petals in tea’s, additions to salad, raw on dishes and also pickled. The fantastic ginger-like flavour is really wonderful. I already posted a pickled magnolia post so have a look back for that recipe. For this video I made a few items. First was a cold infusion. 1. A simple syrup (50/50 sugar to water) poured over the petals. The flavour comes through really nicely in this way and wonderful on desserts. 2. Pickled Magnolia “Pineapple” being the reproductive part of the flower. This pickle was equal parts wine, water and vinegar, mustard seeds, garlic and sweetened as they are quite bitter 3. Battered & stuffed with goats cheese and fermented wild garlic. I made a light batter with egg and cornstarch and stuffed the entire flower before coating and frying. Decorated with pickled pineapple 4. Battered and rolled in icing sugar & cinnamon. Simple and Stunning Try it for yourselves.
