ginkgo nuts
Maidenhair tree produce
Ginkgo nuts are the edible seeds found inside the fruit of the ginkgo tree.
They have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a dense, chewy texture.
Common in East Asian cuisines, they appear in soups, stir-fries, and desserts: The congee was studded with ginkgo nuts.
The outer fruit smells notoriously foul, but the prepared nuts do not.
Embryonic plant capsule
- kernelSeed or essential core
- deciduousSheds foliage seasonally
- ancientVery old indeed
- living fossilOrganism unchanged since prehistory
drupe · yellow · ornamental
Chinese small-plate tradition
- congeeWatery rice porridge
- hot potSimmering communal broth dish
- tofuCoagulated soy milk block
- dashiJapanese kelp-based broth
umami · stir-fry · banchan · oden · sukiyaki · soy sauce · sesame oil · miso
seed
Embryonic plant capsule
living fossil · drupe · yellow · ornamental
dim sum
Chinese small-plate tradition
dashi · umami · stir-fry · banchan · oden · sukiyaki · soy sauce · sesame oil · miso · tempura
bitter
Sharp, unpleasant taste
- astringentTissue-contracting agent
- earthyCoarse and unpretentious
- mildModerate in intensity
savory · pungent · creamy · starchy · acquired taste · rich · delicate · umami
autumn
Post-summer cooling period
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- huskingRemoving dry outer covering
- dryingMoisture removal process
shelling · roasting · seasonal · ripe · fallen · collection · foraging · processing · storage · smell