Elm seeds sell for 10 to 12 yuan per jin, and over ten jin sold out in a single morning

In the warm spring season when flowers bloom, many wild vegetables from the fields have been put on display at farmers' markets and supermarkets, and are deeply loved by the general public. Fresh shepherd's purse can be used to make dumplings, and the crisp and tender mimi wormwood can be blanched in hot water and dressed with vinegar…… A few days ago, reporters found at some farmers' markets in the urban area that, in addition to these common wild vegetables, elm seeds, another delicious gift from nature, have also begun to appear on the market and have been warmly welcomed by residents. Although the price ranges from 10 to 12 yuan per jin, quite a few consumers still buy them to try something fresh.

Over ten yuan per jin, closing in on pork

On the morning of the 5th, reporters came to a farmers' market in the urban area and saw that regular vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, scallions and potatoes, as well as greenhouse vegetables such as eggplants and tomatoes, were piled abundantly on the stalls, waiting for customers to choose. As this spring's new favorite, elm seeds were not plentiful in number. A vendor selling elm seeds told reporters that elm trees are now rarely seen in the urban area, so the output of elm seeds is very small. Even if there happen to be a few elm trees, the elm seeds are picked clean by residents as soon as they sprout. At present, the elm seeds she sells are all delivered by some farmers or vegetable growers from the surrounding suburbs.

With low output, the price is naturally high. At present, the price of elm seeds sold at several farmers' markets in the urban area ranges from 10 to 12 yuan per jin, already approaching the price of pork. Semi-processed elm seed products, such as "steamed elm seed dish," are even sold at 15 yuan per jin, two to three times the price of ordinary steamed dishes. "Elm trees generally grow rather tall. To pick elm seeds, you have to use professional tools to cut down the lower branches, and for the higher branches you can only reach them by climbing the tree. In addition, after cutting the branches, you still have to strip the elm seeds off bit by bit by hand. Compared with other wild vegetables dug from the ground, its harvesting steps are more troublesome, so the price certainly cannot be low." Vendor Mr. Zhou told reporters that although elm seeds are very expensive, their sales are especially good. Over ten jin of elm seeds sold out in a single morning, and customers who bought some in the morning and came back in the afternoon to buy more simply could not get any.

What older people eat is not just the taste, but also a feeling

"Elm seeds are rich in nutrients, and they are very light in weight. For just over ten yuan you can buy a big bag, and taking them home to steam corn buns or make soup is quite good." Resident Aunt Zhang told reporters that most people over fifty have come through hard times. In the past, eating elm seeds was to fill the stomach; now, on the one hand, it is to try something new, and on the other hand, it is also for a healthy diet. "With elm seeds, what you eat is not just the taste, but also a feeling. After all, when I was little I often climbed trees to reach elm seeds, and now they are rarely available, so spending just over ten yuan to buy some to try something fresh is not expensive." Mr. Liu, who came to Qinzhuang Market to buy elm seeds, told reporters that when he was little there was an elm tree in the courtyard of his old home, so he could often eat fresh elm seeds. But elm trees are quite prone to small insects, so later his family removed the elm tree. "Now everyone lives in apartment buildings, and parks and green spaces mostly plant willows and poplars, so wanting to eat elm seeds is even harder."

Elm seeds are the seeds of the elm tree. They got their name because their shape is round and thin like a coin, and because they are a homophone of "surplus money," there is a saying that eating elm seeds can bring "surplus money." According to measurements, the iron content of elm seeds is 11 times that of spinach and 50 times that of tomatoes. Elm seeds are also a good medicine for disease prevention and health care. Elm seeds have effects such as promoting urination and eliminating damp-heat.

There are many ways to eat elm seeds: they can be eaten raw, cooked into porridge, steamed in a steamer, or used as filling. After eating elm seed porridge, the great Song Dynasty writer Ouyang Xiu left behind the poetic line, "The cup and plate of powdered porridge, spring light cold; by the pond pavilion, elm seeds, night rain fresh."