Osmanthus grows at high altitudes and is protected by leaves. It is very clean. Just remove impurities and do not wash! ——Washing with water will dissolve the aromatic substances. Because the fragrance of various fragrant flowers does not exist in the petals, but exists at the bottom of the stamens or attached to the surface of the petals like nectar. The fragrance is emitted by aromatic oils, which are extremely volatile. Therefore, when picking sweet-scented osmanthus, you must seize the opportunity. Do not pick it when it is in buds or half-open (the aromatic oil has not yet been fully secreted), nor when it has bloomed (most of the aromatic oil has evaporated). Therefore, the only way to pick flowers is when they are just blooming, when the aromatic oil content in the flowers is the highest. ——So, if various fragrant flowers are washed or steamed and exposed to the sun, it is conceivable how much aromatic substances will still exist (the process of making scented tea is due to this reason). Here are some of my own methods for preserving osmanthus: 1) Quicklime drying method: Method: Use large paper to loosely wrap the same amount of quicklime cubes as the osmanthus (wrapped into several pieces), and put them into an airtight container. (iron bucket with lid or plastic bucket), then sprinkle all the fresh osmanthus on the quicklime paper bag, close the lid tightly and seal for 1-2 days, the osmanthus will dry and crisp. The dried osmanthus can be sealed and stored in a glass bottle. ——It has the characteristics of not losing its fragrance and not discoloring. Such dried osmanthus can be used in various osmanthus foods. Mechanism: Utilizing the principle of quicklime "calcium carbonate" absorbing moisture at normal temperature and quicklime "calcium hydroxide". 2) Preservation method of white sugar: Method: Mix fresh osmanthus and white sugar thoroughly according to the volume ratio of 1:1, store it in a sealed jar or porcelain jar to avoid light, and can be used as sesame, sesame, etc. for the Lantern Festival or daily Peanuts, walnuts and other glutinous rice dumpling fillings add flavor. Mechanism: Saturated semi-solid candied sugar can sterilize and preserve quality. ——It has the characteristics of not losing the aroma. 3) Making osmanthus wine: Method: Soak about half a liang of fresh osmanthus flowers with one pound of high-quality white wine, then add half a liang of rock sugar and two qian of pork suet (raw), soak for two months before drinking (shake 3-4 times in the middle) , this osmanthus wine is not bitter, not spicy, soft in the mouth, sweet and mellow with a long aftertaste. Mechanism: Liquor absorbs the essence and aroma of osmanthus, dissolves lard, and dissolves rock sugar, allowing the wine to become sweet and delicious. 4) Making osmanthus tea (this method can also be used to make jasmine, magnolia, and Milanese tea): Method:

①Put the green tea in a wok heated to 150 degrees without oil and turn it over repeatedly. Fry for about an hour until the green tea is fully fried and crispy.

②Put the roasted and crispy green tea into an airtight container while it is still hot and cool it (to avoid absorbing moisture in the air).

③ Put about 30% of the total weight of the tea leaves into the container with fresh osmanthus flowers, seal and shake together with the dry tea leaves (shake again after 2-3 hours).

④ After 12-18 hours of fully absorbing aroma and moisture, the osmanthus tea is completed. After sealing and storing, you can take a little boiled water to drink at any time. (Note: At this time, the fresh osmanthus is already as dry as green tea)

Mechanism: According to the characteristics of dry tea that absorbs flavor and moisture, the green tea is roasted from the normal state with normal humidity until dry. In the crisp dehydration state, mix the fragrant fresh osmanthus and the crisp tea leaves in an airtight manner, so that in the process of absorbing the moisture of the fresh osmanthus and returning to normal humidity, the tea will also absorb the aromatic substances of the osmanthus, thus becoming Make fragrant osmanthus tea (the dried osmanthus can be left in the tea, or you can filter it out for other uses). ——————————————————————Clean osmanthus, even if there are tiny bits of osmanthus bark, it doesn’t matter. In fact, washing with water will take away the osmanthus. In addition to the fragrance, won’t the water also leave bad water stains after it dries? Our earth is originally composed of dust. In fact, our food, our vegetables, and the air we breathe are all made of various plant ash and "dust" such as calcium, zinc, tin, copper, iron, etc. composition. Various bacteria are actually everywhere in our lives, but when humans who are accustomed to cooked food cook and brew at 100 degrees high temperature... they are no longer living bacteria. ——As long as we pay more attention to the most basic food hygiene and living hygiene, we don’t need to be too meticulous about the microscopic aspects. What do you think, my friend?