Lily Flowers

Classification and Origin

Liliaceae

Lilium

Lilium brownii var. viridulum (龙牙百合, lóngyá bǎihé) and Lilium lancifolium (卷丹, juǎndān — tiger lily; synonym Lilium tigrinum)

dried flowers and semi-opened buds

Hunan, Gansu, Jiangxi, Jiangsu

Type: herbal infusion, tea substitute (代用茶, dàiyòng chá)

Facts

Facts: Interesting Facts

• The name 百合 describes not the flower but the structure of the bulb — the "hundred layered" scales.
• The wedding symbolism is built on the homophony of 百合 with the wish 百年好合.
• The Lanzhou bulb is so sweet that it is eaten almost raw; a classic dish is celery with lily (西芹百合, xīqín bǎihé).
• A single plant yields two distinct goods: the bulb (a culinary delicacy) and the flower (raw material for an infusion).
• Lily is often confused with daylily (黄花菜, huánghuācài): the flowers look superficially similar, but they belong to different genera.

In Conclusion:

Lily flowers are a characteristic representative of Chinese 代用茶: a beverage brewed and drunk in the manner of tea, but which is not tea and contains no camellia leaf. Behind the modest floral aroma lies a rich culture in which the bulb and the flower lead nearly separate lives — the former as a delicacy and an ingredient in health cuisine, the latter as the basis of a light, fragrant infusion — united by the characters for "a hundred joined" and the wedding symbolism associated with them.

As a product, lily flowers are simple and honest: an affordable raw material, mild flavor, and versatility in blends and cold preparations. A sensible approach to them is to treat them as a pleasant herbal beverage, to appreciate their organoleptics and terroir, but not to expect therapeutic miracles from a cup of infusion, and to select raw material by its natural color and scent rather than by the prom

History and Culture

百年好合 (bǎinián hǎohé) — "a hundred years of harmonious union"

Name Breakdown: 百合 (bǎihé) — literally "a hundred joined," "a hundred layered together"

Botany and Raw Material

perennial bulbous herbaceous plant

erect, up to 1.5 m in cultivated forms

narrow, lanceolate, sessile

large, of six tepals, with six stamens and a three-locular ovary

dried flowers and buds

Terroir

Wanzai County (万载, wànzài)

Yixing (宜兴, yíxīng)

Production

buds and semi-open flowers are cut in dry weather

sorting, sometimes brief thermal treatment with steam

sun-drying, shade-drying, or hot-air drying at gentle temperatures

by flower integrity and color

Organoleptic Profile

whole dried flowers and buds, ranging from creamy-white to pale yellowish-brown

delicate floral, with light honey and herbaceous notes

soft, slightly sweet with a barely perceptible bitterness

from nearly transparent to pale golden

Chemical Composition

a significant fraction characteristic of the genus Lilium

typical for Liliaceae

contribute to part of the flavor and color

present in plants of the genus, which partly explains the recommendation for moderation

Health Notes

lily is associated with the concepts of "moistening the lungs" (润肺, rùnfèi) and "calming the heart and spirit" (清心安神, qīngxīn ānshén); it is classified as a "cool" natured ingredient (微寒, wēihán)

the biological activity of polysaccharides and saponins from Liliaceae is a subject of laboratory research, the results of which do not constitute confirmation of any therapeutic effect of the beverage

Brewing

approximately 3–5 g of dried flowers per 200–300 ml of water

85–95 °C; for delicate aroma, closer to the lower boundary

3–5 minutes for the first infusion

2–3, with increased steeping time

possible (cold infusion in the refrigerator for 4–8 hours)

Teaware: glass cup or teapot, gaiwan

Storage

Container: tightly closed, preferably opaque; vacuum packing works well

Enemies: moisture, foreign odors, insects, direct light

Shelf Life: approximately 12–18 months under proper storage

dry, cool, dark place

Price and Authenticity

around 70 CNY/kg (this figure fluctuates by season, region, and grade)

whole flowers and buds recognizable by shape, of a natural creamy-yellow tone, with a clean floral scent

unnatural whiteness, sharp sulfurous smell (result of sulfur fumigation), abundance of broken fragments and foreign matter