Sweet potato & Kuchinashi (Gardenia) fruit

emointhekitchen

October is the season for harvesting sweet potatoes. Not only are they more affordable, but when the weather gets colder, I find myself craving these foods more and more. The sweet taste is irresistibly delicious. It’s easy to make, so please try it.

Next up Kuchinashi (Gardenia) fruit grows wild throughout Japan. They harvest fruits from October to December. Since ancient times, people have used this fruit not only as a dye and to colour food but also for its effectiveness as an herbal medicine. When used in Chinese medicine, it is called Shān zhī zi (山梔子). Gardenia fruit is characterized by not cracking even when ripe, and there is a theory that this is why it was named ‘Gardenia (mouthless = unable to open its mouth)’.There are various theories. It is also used in cookies and Japanese sweets.

We need:

1 sweet potato
70g Brown sugar
1-2 slices of lemon
1 Kuchinashi (Gardenia) fruit

Preparation:

Cut the sweet potato into large pieces and soak in water. Crush the Kuchinashi fruit and put it in a bag. Place the sweet potatoes, Kuchinashi fruit and enough water to cover in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 15 minutes. When it becomes soft, please remove it from the heat, and let it cool slightly. Drain the water from the sweet potatoes, put them in a pot, add 350 cc of water, 70 g of brown sugar, lemon and cook slowly for 15 to 20 minutes and it’s done.

Gardenia fruit – Kuchinashi fruit (Shān zhī zi) – Property – cold, bitter; heart, lung, stomach, liver, triple burner. Action – Purges fire and removes irritability. Clears heat and promotes urination. Cools the blood and resolves toxicity. Indications – fever, insomnia, irritability, delirium, chest constriction, dysuria, jaundice, hepatitis, oozing eyes, swollen painful sinuses, nose bleeds, vomiting blood, blood in the urine or stools, epistaxis, used to treat injuries and traumas.

Sweet potatoes (Fān shǔ）- Property – sweet, neutral; spleen, kidney. Action – Tonify the Middle and benefit the Spleen, regulate the blood, nourish the Qi, quench thirst and reduce oedema, help with digestive system health and relieve constipation, and help with damp heat and jaundice.
Contraindication – Do not over-consume, which may cause excess stomach acid. Individuals with weak or cold spleen and stomach, should not consume raw sweet potato.

Treasures of Chinese Dietetics can be found here