Edible Orchids?
 

Are all orchids edible? I thought it might make a very ostentatious salad topper for Christmas dinner.
Depau

The only way I've heard of orchids being eaten is as salep, an edible "ice cream" from Iran and Turkey. Perhaps some flowers on the salad that can be taken off and taken home are more appropriate, though I don't know they would hurt.

from what i've heard, they're all edible, but the flavor might be nauseating for some people. using the flowers as a decoration wouldn't hurt anything.

OMG, are you all serious?? You want to EAT our Beautiful Blooms??

Thank God I'm not a Vegitarian ;)

Thank you, so much, for the replies. I will probably try one, but I am not a fan of cut flowers. I like them where they grew and bloomed.
Thanks, Depau

There is some Denrobiums that they use as plate decorations here in Hawaii. I tried one but No Thanks I wont try another:_( . But my Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance" sure is tempting :scratchhead:.

Roland

well, don't get too tempted. the nectar that gives it the scent is only a small part of what gives it its flavor.

Here is my summary on orchid as food.
A word of caution, make sure they were not sprayed with toxic chemicals.

Dendrobiums have been used as a vegetable in Asia.

Jumellea leaves are brewed for tea.

In Mexico the pseudobulbs of Laelia superbiens are macerated, flavored and made into confections and shaped like skulls and other objects for All Saints' Day.

In some parts of Brazil the seedpods of Leptotes bicolor are cured and produce a flovoring similar to vanilla which is used to flavor
ice cream.

The tubers of Australian terrestrial orchids and pseudobulbs of Dendrobium speciosum were once roasted & eaten by various Koori tribes in Australia

Starchy tubers of North Amercian lady's slippers were once eaten.

Chinese are said to use the old dendrobium canes for soup.

In fact here is enough orchid eating going on even today that it has prompted an edible orchid conservation group.

"In the southern Africa region (Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi), the tubers of the orchids have for a long time been used as a source of food. The tubers are traded locally within the three countries, where they are used in the preparation of a meatless source.

Orchid farmers in Singapore have recently began to conduct cooking classes using orchids, introducing stir-fried orchids and orchid sauces. Not only are orchids edible, but also gardeners say that it is a source of fiber and vitamin C. So what does it taste like? Opinions vary; some say it is somewhat sweet, others say it tastes like tannin or raw chives.

People in Hawaii have been making salad dishes, cooking orchids and scallops together or have made sugar coated orchid candies since the 1960s. "
Ref: New Page 1


However, the rattailed Oncidium ceboleta has been reported to be used as a hallucinogen when stronger stuff was not available. So check before using

WOW -- Edible Orchids
 

That is very interesting. Now I have to try them, just not Oncidium. Great information.
Thanks,
Depau

my partner has threatened to feed my chids to our horses...does that count?

Hummm. Think I'll just stick to getting my Vanilla orchids to bloom and eat the dried and cured seed pods mixed into either a nice dark rum or some ice cream, depending on the mood/need.

I must admit, I have eaten some of my blooms. I have been served orchids on platters before at restaurants, and tried them knowing that anything they put on the plate is edible. I have also eaten some of my phal blossoms, but only after they fall off. I must say, they are rather tasteless. :yawn: I have also used them as decorations on plates, but usually only when I serve a plate of something to my wife, since I usually only lose one bloom at a time. I guess I need many more orchids to be able to decorate our plates daily!:biggrin:

There you go! Another good reason to buy more orchids. Thanks for giving us all yet another reason (that's if some people really NEEDED another reason.....) to add more orchids to our respective collections.

BUMP!
The other day I went to a restaurant where they served a dendrobium blossom in the cocktail! It was good! Crunchy, sweet...I would relate it to the flavoring of a star fruit.
Has anyone here grown any dendrobiums at home for eating? I'm just wondering on the logisitics...and if I could do this! Would superthrive or KLN be bad then to use? This might be fun for a wedding, birthday, special party!

I've been in several places where a dendrobium flower is served with the meal, on the plate, as a food item.

Exactly! I just want to make sure that if I place a dendro flower on my plate from my own collection, that I won't end up poisoning myself!

Yea I thought it was merely decoration. Like that green stuff they put on dinner plates. OOPS thats salad!