With all the hype that edible flowers is getting in the market, have we paid enough tribute to local edible flowers that we have in our land? Keep in mind that all the flowers that are edible, they don’t have to be petite and pretty. While most edible flowers are shown as a garnish these days, flowers have been a core part in some of Indonesian favourite dishes. So what are they?
Kecombrang
One of Zingiberacea family original of Indonesia is flower kecombrang (Etlingera elatior). This Crop is recognized with various names for example "kencong" or "kincung" in Sumatra North, "kecombrang" in Java, "honje"in Sunda, "bongkot" in Bali, "sambuang" in West Sumatra, "flower kantan" in Malaysia. This crop is also known as torch ginger or torch lily due to the colour and shape of this particular flower. Some people also know it as philippine waxflower or porcelein rose relating to the beauty of its flower. This crop is an indigenous crop of Indonesia proven by an etnobotanical study in Kalimantan island, where70% from existing species have other local names in the island and more than 60% existing species have at least one benefit used by the Kalimantan people.
Surprisingly common to be used in Indonesian dishes, bunga kecombrang is cooked differently in different parts of Indonesia. In Bali, the flower is called kecicang, while the young stem is called bongkot and both can be used in sambal matah. In Javanese dishes, the flower is a common part of pecel, mixed with other vegetables. In Karo, bunga kecombrang is used in their popular dish, which is arsik ikan mas.
Furthermore, the use of kecombrang flower in the culinary have been practiced since long time ago. This flower have a typicall flavour and aroma that will give delicious sensation to neutralize seafood and coconut based food.Traditionally, the leaf is used as medicine and cosmetic useage such as eliminating body odour. Based on some ancient literature, the kecombrang flower was also used to prevent early aging an eliminating phlegm. Kecombrang flower has some excellence traits for example as an edible flower, owning antioxidant activity which can eliminate free radical inhibition and antimicrobial activity. So that this crop can be developed as the functional food, that is substance of food that not only has nutrition value but also owns certain medical purposes. The medical purposes is different from drugs which are more curative. Functional food works as an agent of preventing infectious diseases.
Crop of Kecombrang
This is Sambal Matah in Bali. It use crop of Kecombrang
Kembang Turi
Kembang Turi (Sesbania grandiflora) is quite popular in Javanese dishes. When it has been boiled, the flower is a common addition to pecel or eaten as lalap. The flower itself has a meaty flavor and has a bit of slimy texture. It is believed that kembang turi can help breastfeeding mother to improve milk production.
Sesbania gradiflora has unique medicinal properties and used as a herbal drug for its antibiotic, anthelmintic, anti-tumour and contraceptive properties. The part of these plants serves as a natural anti-oxidant. The juice (tonic) of the leaves is considered to possess antihelmintic property and is used to treat worms, biliousness, fever, gout, itchiness, and leprosy. The young leaves and the tender pods of these plants are used to supplement meals and as vegetables.
Kembang Turi
Pecel Kembang Turi
Sumber:
Valensi Vol. 2 No. 2, Mei 2011 (393‐398) Antioxidant Activity From Water Extract Of Kecombrang Flower (Etlingera elatior) Leading To Jelly Candy Formulation
International Journal of Biosciences and Nanosciences Volume 1 (2), 2014, pp. 33-36. Phytochemical screening of Sesbania grandiflora (Linn)
Source pictures are google
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