I just went to an old Vietnamese grocery store, everything is 50% off. So I got a bunch of random Chinese stuff, some of it is not labeled in English. I thought it was food, but by the taste of it, it must be something else. The package says "health food" on the back
The first thing is called amomum costatum, it appears to be a tree nut (?), but I tasted one and wow, talk about bitter and weird. its extremely bitter. What is this and would be a use for such a thing?
The second thing is unlabeled, it it a tree nut/fruit thing, it is large, about the size of an egg, but its shell is dark brown. The inside is sort of styrofoam-like with seeds, its very sickening sweet and tastes like saccharin, and very bitter at the same time. Eww! Any idea what it is, and why someone would use it?
The last thing is a box labeled "chinese herbs", and has the following: radix angelicae sinensis, radix paeoniae alba, radix rehmanniae, and rhizoma ligustici wallichii.
Any ideas?
2006-09-13 10:39:57 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Ethnic Cuisine
First off...you should NEVER consume something without knowing exactly what it is. Even if you think it's food...there are items in foreign markets that are sold near the food items but are not meant for consumption. Example: bug chalk...it's a power of sorts meant as an inscecticide...it contains borax ...which is poisonous. Ok, enough of the lecture...
What you picked up is probably the traditional herb packets created by the herbalists. Many people steep these various herbs (sometimes after a long soaking process in water) and add them to soups. The actual herbs are then thrown away but the soups are drunk for medicinal purposes. Do not eat the herbs. That is not what they were intended.
I would say...keep up your shopping adventures in these stores...you learn alot and get to appreciate other cultures.
2006-09-13 10:49:40 · answer #1 · answered by punchie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Radix Angelicae Sinensis (more commonly known as Danggui) and Ligustici Wa llichii Rhizoma are often used together as Chinese medicine to "activate" blood and help in regulating menstruation. Somtimes Chinese do use them in soup for medicinal purposes.
MUST consult a herbalist before using them! Different people might have different reactions to different herbs.
2006-09-16 05:27:31 · answer #2 · answered by Macchiato 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Amomum costamum" is a spice used in the Vietnamese soup dish 'Pho', one of the greatest meals ever for breakfast lunch or dinner! Here's a recipe:
http://www.cangsam.com/wordpress/?p=14
The "chinese herbs" probably belong in the trash. Here's a sampling of what they are/are supposed to do, LOL!
http://www.damo-qigong.net/1-30.htm
http://www.islamset.com/sc/plants/paeoniae.html
It never fails to astonish me that Westerners find "Chinese medicine" so alluring, the Chinese have been using these "natural remedies" for thousands of years, you'd think they be healthier by now, wouldn't you?
2006-09-13 10:52:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing I know about Chinese herbs is that I like cilantro, but it sounds to me that you got medicine. My husband gave me some tiny seeds once because I was sick and they made me sicker. He felt so guilty! lol But really, it sounds as if you got Chinese medicine not anything to cook with.
2006-09-13 17:37:29 · answer #4 · answered by Sonia Jo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
okay what u have may be for medicine only to mix it n stuff like that
2006-09-13 10:50:22 · answer #5 · answered by Maliboo562 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would stop opening them and ebay them. :)
2006-09-13 12:55:06 · answer #6 · answered by WriterMom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try marijuana, its a good herb.. you can smoke it or bake it...
2006-09-13 10:42:58 · answer #7 · answered by mike d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋