What Is the Difference Between Baihe (Lily Bulb) and Lily Flower? A Quick Guide to Telling Them Apart
Is there a difference between baihe (lily bulb) and lily flower? Many friends think that the baihe they eat is just the petals of the lily flower, but this understanding is actually wrong, though it cannot be said that the two are completely unrelated. Let's take a look below at exactly what the difference is between them.
1. The difference between lily flower and baihe (lily bulb)
Baihe refers to the bulbs of plants in the genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae. There are about 300 or more species of such plants, and the bulbs of some varieties are edible. Lily flower refers to the flowers of plants in the genus Lilium, which is the floral part. In everyday life, baihe can generally be used to refer to lily flower, so baihe may mean either the lily bulb or the lily flower. But lily flower is never used to refer to baihe (the bulb).
2. Can lily flowers be eaten?
Whether lily flowers can be eaten depends on the specific variety.
1. Ornamental fresh lily flowers cannot be eaten
Common white lilies, pink lilies, large yellow lilies and other Lilium longiflorum (Easter lily) types used as cut flowers cannot be eaten. They are specially bred ornamental varieties and are not edible. Such flowers often have larger blooms and brighter colors, and some have a distinct fragrance. They can be used in bouquets, to decorate wedding cars, or placed in vases, but they do not belong to the edible category.
2. Edible lily varieties
Baihe has its own dedicated edible varieties. The scales and flowers of these varieties can all be eaten. Common varieties include Lanzhou lily, Yixing lily, Longya lily and Lilium lancifolium (tiger lily). They are named differently according to the place of origin of the variety. But they share one thing in common: their leaves tend to be relatively slender, elongated in shape, and fairly densely arranged. The flowers are also smaller, mostly orange-yellow to orange-red.
3. Lily flowers that can be brewed as tea
Lily flowers used for brewing tea belong to edible varieties. These flowers are generally made from the unopened buds of edible lilies that have been dried. They can be brewed directly with hot water as a tea substitute. Drinking it regularly also has beauty and detoxifying benefits. But be careful not to use too much, and do not keep drinking it for a long time. Too much of anything is as bad as too little, so moderation is best. However, dried flowers are not suitable for making congee; for congee you can use dried edible lily slices, while dried flowers are generally brewed as tea.