How to dry osmanthus

In autumn, the most fragrant smell in the air is osmanthus. Of course, osmanthus not only emits a rich fragrance and has ornamental value, it can also be used to make classic snacks such as osmanthus wine and osmanthus sweet taro balls. The more common osmanthus flowers on the market are usually dried, because this way they can be preserved for a longer time. So, how to dry osmanthus?

How to dry fresh osmanthus: oven drying method

1. Put fresh osmanthus flowers into the sieve and shake it continuously to filter out the flower stalks and other impurities.

2. Rinse the sieved fresh osmanthus with clean water to remove the dust on the surface. This process should be done quickly to keep the osmanthus fresh.

3. Drain the washed osmanthus flowers, spread them in a cool and dry place, and let them air dry. It must not be placed in a place exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the osmanthus will wilt quickly.

4. Place baking paper on the baking tray and spread the drained osmanthus flowers evenly on it.

5. Set the oven temperature to 40 degrees, adjust to the dough proofing setting, bake for about 4 to 5 hours, take out and let cool.

6. Finally, put the cooled osmanthus flowers into a bag, seal it and put it in the refrigerator. Just take it out when you need it.

How to dry fresh osmanthus: microwave drying method

1. Pick out the dead flowers and pedicels of fresh osmanthus, wash them with clean water and control the moisture. Find a piece of clean gauze, pour the osmanthus flowers on the gauze, and prepare to bake it in the microwave.

2. Bake it twice in the microwave on medium heat, the first time for 3 minutes. After it cools down, bake it a second time on medium heat for 2 minutes. The dried osmanthus made in this way has the best color and is just the right tenderness.

How to dry fresh osmanthus: quicklime drying method

1. Pick out impurities from the fresh osmanthus flowers, but never wash them with water. If you really have to wash it, you can use a flower sprinkler to rinse the fresh osmanthus flowers, control the water and then blow dry them with a hair dryer. Never put the osmanthus flowers in the sun to dry.

2. Take enough quicklime blocks and place them at the bottom of the container. Cover them with a layer of plastic paper. Then take a large piece of paper and place it into the container. The paper should completely cover the bottom and sides of the container. This is mainly to prevent direct contact between osmanthus and quicklime. The amount of quicklime blocks used is about twice the weight of fresh osmanthus, the more the better.

3. After finishing, sprinkle the fresh osmanthus flowers into the container, then seal the container tightly for 1 to 2 days. Open it and take a look. The fresh osmanthus flowers have become very dry and crisp, without losing their fragrance or changing color.