Not all flowers can bloom in harsh weather, and the Western Nanking Cherry Blossom (also known as the Tỳ Bà flower) is one of the rare types that can.
The Western Nanking Cherry Blossom can withstand temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius. The blooming period can last from October to February of the following year. This is one of the few flower species that display vibrant colors during the cold season.
The Western Nanking Cherry Blossom is likened to real ‘gold’ due to its valuable medicinal properties.
From a distance, this flower resembles a small golden cup, exuding an air of wealth. In fact, it can indeed be compared to real ‘gold’ because of its precious medicinal value.
In China, the Western Nanking Cherry Blossom has been featured in many medical texts. In the encyclopedia of medicinal plants, “Bản thảo cương mục”, it is recorded that mixing and grinding the Western Nanking Cherry Blossom and dried Magnolia can help treat colds and fevers, making it one of the most effective antipyretics.
Moreover, the book “Thảo dược Trùng Khánh” also states that using the Western Nanking Cherry Blossom, alongside the roots of the bamboo and Epimedium at the right ratio, can effectively treat coughs and phlegm.
The Western Nanking Cherry Blossom can be used to treat various difficult and complex diseases. (Illustrative photo).
In China, the Western Nanking Cherry Blossom is known for its powerful medicinal properties and can be used to treat complex ailments. This is one of the reasons why high-quality Western Nanking Cherry Blossoms can sell for 8,000 RMB (approximately 25.9 million VND) per kilogram. Additionally, dried Western Nanking Cherry Blossoms are used to brew tea.
However, the Western Nanking Cherry Blossom is not a rare plant by nature. So, why are they so expensive?
The reason is that Western Nanking Cherry Blossoms shrink and lose quantity after processing. Additionally, harvesting these blossoms is entirely manual. Using machinery makes it difficult to preserve the soft and delicate petals.
In China, not many people cultivate the Western Nanking Cherry, primarily because many farmers are not aware of its value. They mainly grow it for its fruit and do not explore the value of the flowers. At most, they consider these beautiful flowers to be ornamental.
The Western Nanking Cherry tree has high environmental requirements, and its care is not simple.
Even when people recognize the true value of the Western Nanking Cherry Blossom, many still lack knowledge of the cultivation and harvesting techniques, resulting in a lack of production scale and related facilities. Moreover, the Western Nanking Cherry tree has very high environmental requirements, making its care quite challenging. The flowering harvest usually occurs in the cold winter, and climbing the trees to manually pick each blossom poses a significant health challenge for farmers.
Thus, the actual quantity of Western Nanking Cherry Blossoms is incredibly limited, leading to the staggering price of nearly 26 million VND per kilogram currently.
