Can bayberry with bugs still be eaten?

Many friends may have noticed that after soaking the bayberries they bought at home in salt water, bugs appear crawling on the bayberries, which is how the saying that bayberries have bugs came about. But do the bugs in the bayberry flesh actually harm people? Let me analyze it for you.

Bayberry

Swallowing this kind of bug will not harm the human body; instead, it is a high-quality protein. The small white worms inside the bayberry are actually the larvae of fruit flies. Fruit flies usually feed on honey, fruit and so on, and are themselves relatively clean. During their breeding season, they are attracted by the scent given off by the bayberry, lay eggs on the surface of the bayberry, and after the eggs hatch into larvae, the larvae burrow into the flesh and feed on it. If left to grow naturally, they will only fly away after the larvae mature into fruit flies.

Bayberry worms contain antimicrobial peptides. Can they improve the human body's resistance?

From birth to growth, fruit fly larvae are almost always in an uncontaminated environment, so there are almost no harmful bacteria present that could affect humans. Some people even treasure these worms, believing they can boost people's resistance, which is why eating bayberries does not cause stomach upset.

The presence of small worms inside bayberries is a natural phenomenon and a manifestation of biodiversity. Nowadays, more and more bayberry-producing areas, such as Yuyao and Cixi in Ningbo, Xianju in Taizhou, Ouhai in Wenzhou, Qingtian in Lishui, and Lanxi in Jinhua and other main production areas, have begun to adopt pollution-free, high-quality cultivation. Bayberries cultivated through physical control methods such as insect-attracting paper, insect-repelling film, insect-killing lamps and insect-proof nets can be almost completely free of worms. This type of pollution-free bayberry sells at a higher price, is more popular, and is also the direction of bayberry cultivation in the future.

The shelf life of fresh bayberry fruit is very short, only 1-2 days at room temperature. If there are worms inside, they will mature as the bayberry spoils. Fruit fly larvae are harmless to the human body during the white larval stage, but once they begin to mature, turn black, and crawl out, eating them at that point is harmful to the human body. Therefore, after buying bayberries, they must be eaten as soon as possible.

Do bayberries need to be washed before eating? Can bayberry seeds be eaten directly?

Do bayberries need to be washed before eating?

Some people say that "the bayberry is the only fruit among all kinds of fruit that will not cause stomach upset." This is because the bayberry itself contains acidic substances, and there is also gastric acid in the stomach; these two acids play a bactericidal role. But this does not mean the bayberry itself is immune to all insects. If a bayberry that has been touched by a green-headed blowfly is eaten without being washed, it is equivalent to eating thousands upon thousands of bacteria, and the possibility of "serious stomach upset" is very high. A few "bayberry farmers" and "bayberry merchants," for the sake of the freshness and firmness of the bayberry, may spray the chemical "formaldehyde." Although "formaldehyde" has little effect on the stomach and intestines, it has a great effect on eyesight. Especially for bayberries transported from other places, there are even unscrupulous vendors who spray "insecticide" to prevent rotting; if such bayberries are not washed, they are even more unfit to eat. Therefore, bayberries should still be washed before eating.

What are the benefits of eating bayberries?

1. Weight loss, beauty and anti-aging. The cellulose in bayberry flesh can stimulate intestinal peristalsis, which is beneficial for the excretion of harmful substances in the body and has a detoxifying and beautifying effect; the anthocyanins and vitamin C contained in bayberry have good antioxidant functions and have the effects of improving immunity, resisting free radicals, preventing aging and inhibiting cancer.

2. Relieving summer heat, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst. Fresh bayberry fruit can harmonize the stomach and aid digestion, promote fluid production and quench thirst. It is an excellent product for dispelling summer heat and can prevent heatstroke, remove sand rash and relieve restlessness and thirst.

3. Aiding digestion and increasing appetite. Bayberry contains a variety of organic acids, and its vitamin C content is also very rich. The fresh fruit tastes sour, and eating it can increase the acidity in the stomach, digest food and promote appetite.

4. Preventing and fighting cancer. Bayberry contains vitamin C and B, which have a positive effect on preventing and fighting cancer. The kernel of the bayberry contains vitamin B17, which is an anti-cancer substance, and the cyanogenic glycosides and fatty oils it contains also have the effect of inhibiting cancer cells.

5. Lowering blood pressure and preventing stroke. Fresh bayberry fruit is extremely rich in potassium, with about 100 mg of potassium per 100 grams of fresh fruit. Modern medical research has proved that potassium has prominent effects in maintaining heart function, participating in metabolism and lowering blood pressure, and also helps regulate emotions, stabilize mood and reduce the incidence of stroke. Therefore, it has the effects of regulating qi and activating blood, regulating blood lipids, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, and preventing stroke.

Can bayberry seeds be eaten directly?

It is best not to eat the seeds, because the human body can neither digest nor absorb them. If your bowel movements are poor, they will also make them even less smooth! If you accidentally eat one or two, there is no need to worry.

What varieties of bayberry are there?

Whenever the Dragon Boat Festival season arrives, food lovers' hot topics always revolve around having bayberries to eat, where to pick bayberries and similar topics. That's right, around May every year there are sweet-and-sour, delicious bayberries to eat! Food lovers only care about how to eat bayberries, and may not know that bayberries also have many varieties!

What varieties of bayberry are there?

1. Biqi variety: produced in Majian in Lanxi, Yuyao and Cixi of Zhejiang Province. The tree vigor is moderate, the fruit weighs about 10 grams, and it is purplish black. The taste is sweet with slight sourness, the pit is small and the juice is abundant.

2. Wando bayberry: produced in Gaoxie, Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. The tree vigor is strong, the fruit weighs about 11.2 grams on average, is round, purplish black and shiny, and of good quality.

3. Dongkui: this variety was selected by Zhejiang Agricultural University and the Chengjiang District Citrus Extension Station from local excellent late-maturing varieties. It is produced in Dong'ao Village, Jiangkou Township, Huangyan District. The tree vigor is robust, the crown is tall and large, the fruit averages 24 grams and reaches up to 42 grams at maximum, is purplish red or red, the flesh columns are relatively thick, the sweetness and sourness are moderate, and the quality is excellent.

4. Ding'ao mei: produced in Ding'ao Village, Chashan, Wenzhou City. The tree vigor is robust, the branches are relatively sparse and open, the fruit is large, averaging 15-18 grams, purplish red, thick-fleshed, soft in texture, juicy and sweet, with a small pit and top-grade quality.

5. Daye Xidi: produced in the East and West Hills of Dongting, Jiangsu. The tree vigor is robust, the leaves are large and thick, the fruit is medium to large, weighing 13 grams, purplish red or purplish black in color, fine and juicy in texture, sweet and sour and tasty, and of good quality.

6. Dali Zi: produced in Qianqi, Fuding, Fujian. The tree vigor is robust. The fruit is purplish red, medium to large, averaging 12.9 grams, soft in texture, sweet and sour in taste, and appears greenish.

7. Guangye bayberry: produced in Jingxian, Hunan. The fruit is large, spherical, with radial grooves at the top of the fruit extending all the way to the middle of the fruit, giving a glossy appearance, purplish red in color, and of top-grade variety.

8. Wusu He: produced in Neishe Village, Xilu Town, Chaoyang District, Shantou City, Guangdong Province. It is an improved variety selected in recent years. The fruit weighs about 16 grams and is purplish black. The flesh is thick and loose in texture, juicy and sweet, with a small pit and excellent quality.

Introduction to bayberry

Bayberry belongs to the genus Myrica in the family Myricaceae and is a small tree or shrub plant. It is also called shengshengmei, baidimei and shumei. It has very high medicinal and edible value and is distributed in East China as well as Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou and other areas of China. Bayberry originated in Yuyao, Zhejiang, China. In 1973, when the Neolithic Hemudu site was excavated within Yuyao, bayberry genus pollen was discovered, indicating that bayberry grew in this area more than 7,000 years ago. This genus has more than 50 species. Those known in China include bayberry, white bayberry, hairy bayberry, green bayberry and dwarf bayberry, and commercial cultivation is mainly of bayberry.

The bayberry has luxuriant branches and leaves, a rounded crown, and in early summer is laden with red fruits, very lovely. It is an excellent tree species for landscaping combined with production. It is very suitable whether planted alone, in groups on lawns and in courtyards, or in rows along roadsides; it is also ideal if densely planted to divide space or provide screening. For economic use, the fruit tastes moderately sweet and sour, can be eaten directly, and can also be processed into dried bayberry, sauce, preserves and so on, and can also be brewed into wine. It has functions such as quenching thirst, promoting fluid production and aiding digestion.

The nutritional value of bayberry

According to measurements: the sugar content of high-quality bayberry flesh is 12%-13%, and the acid content is 0.5%-1.1%. It is rich in cellulose, mineral elements, vitamins and a certain amount of protein, fat, pectin and 8 kinds of amino acids beneficial to the human body. The calcium, phosphorus and iron contents in its fruit are more than 10 times higher than those in other fruits.

Nutrient content per 100 grams of edible portion of bayberry: water 83.4-92.0 grams, calories 28 kcal, protein 0.8 grams, fat 0.2 grams, carbohydrates 5.7 grams, dietary fiber 1 gram, juice sugar content 12-13 grams, acid content 0.5-1.8 grams, thiamine 10 micrograms, riboflavin 50 micrograms, niacin 0.3 milligrams, retinol equivalent 92 micrograms, carotene 0.3 micrograms, vitamin A 7 micrograms, vitamin C 9 milligrams, vitamin E 0.81 milligrams, calcium 14 milligrams, magnesium 10 milligrams, iron 1 milligram, manganese 0.72 milligrams, zinc 0.14 milligrams, copper 20 micrograms, potassium 149 milligrams, phosphorus 8 milligrams, sodium 0.7 milligrams, selenium 0.31 micrograms.

Precautions for picking bayberries

1. When picking bayberries, visitors had better wear dark-colored or old clothes, otherwise just wait for the bright juice to stain your whole body! At the same time, it also prevents small insect bites.

2. Because bayberries mostly grow on hills and it is summer, it is advisable to bring less snacks and more water before going up the hill! At the same time, bring sun protection items (such as a sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen oil and so on).

3. Once picked, bayberries can be put directly into the mouth, because small insects do not dare to touch bayberries, and the rain, dew and sunlight in the grove are all sterilizing.

4. Visitors should pay attention to safety when going up the hill to pick bayberries and should not climb too high. The higher the bayberries grow, the tastier they are. If you want to pick bayberries growing at the top of the tree, it is best to ask the orchard owner for a bamboo hook and carefully pull that branch over before picking. However, you must be careful, because bayberry branches are especially brittle and break very easily. Do not make the orchard owner distressed!

5. Visitors should cherish the bayberry trees and should not pick them together with the branches, because this will affect the growth of the bayberries the following year; when picking bayberries, also be careful not to greedily pick a handful at a time, but pick them one by one!

6. To speed up picking, it is best to bring scissors; a purplish bayberry is fully ripe, and it is best to gently cut it off with scissors at the branch part, but the stem should not be left long, so as not to damage the other bayberries in the fruit basket; when picking, you can place a layer of bayberries and then a layer of leaves as padding to prevent them from bruising each other.

7. Bayberries are not only delicious, but also relieve summer heat, promote fluid production, strengthen the spleen, quench thirst and relieve cough, treat stomachache and increase appetite. On a scorching summer day, eating a few bayberries soaked in baijiu can not only stop diarrhea but also prevent heatstroke, and the locally made bayberry wine full of fruity aroma is even a darling of the dining table! After eating too many Dongkui bayberries, some people's teeth may ache. Generally there is no need for treatment. After eating bayberries, chewing tea leaves can reduce the soreness of the teeth. Of course, the best way is to do everything in moderation and not be too greedy when you see something good.

So bayberries actually have so many varieties. Have food lovers broadened their knowledge? The taste and mouthfeel of different varieties will also differ a little, but the difference will not be very great, and food lovers can savor them carefully. I would also like to remind all food lovers here that although bayberries are delicious, do not be too greedy!