Phoenix eye fruit is a kind of food material that can be used as medicine as well. It is very nutritious, not only can regulate the stomach, but also has detoxifying and insecticidal effects, and can delay aging. Let's get to know the morphological characteristics and edible methods of phoenix eye fruit below.
[Distinguishing between true and false phoenix eye fruit]
Phoenix eye fruit is not widely planted, but false phoebe is very common. False phoebe and phoenix eye fruit (phoebe fruit) belong to the same Magnoliaceae family and are evergreen trees. The appearance of the fruit and leaves are very similar, so how do we distinguish between false phoebe and true phoebe (phoenix eye fruit)?
Look at the flowers: The flowers of phoenix eye fruit are small and dense, like small palace lanterns. The flowers of false phoebe are like spreading small red stars, which are its split sepals. The colors are also different, phoenix eye fruit is mostly creamy yellow or light pink, while false phoebe is mostly light red.
Look at the leaves: The leaves of phoebe are broad and round to elliptical, much wider than the leaves of false phoebe; while the leaves of false phoebe are elliptical to rectangular, almost lanceolate.
Look at the fruit: The fruit is the easiest to distinguish. Phoenix eye fruit usually has 1 to 3 seeds per pod, and the size is between a broad bean and a pigeon egg, much larger than the seeds of false phoebe!
The fruit of false phoebe formed in summer is palm-shaped and radiating, with black pearl-like seeds inside. There are usually 5 to 7 seeds per pod, which are only as big as peanuts.
[Methods of eating phoenix eye fruit]
The fruit of phoenix eye fruit is not only beautiful but also delicious. The taste of the fruit is similar to chestnuts, and the eating method is also the same, such as phoenix eye fruit braised duck, braised pork ribs, and braised chicken.
Especially in Panyu and Shunde areas, phoenix eye fruit is a seasonal ingredient with obvious characteristics and is a seasonal delicacy for many connoisseurs.
Phoenix eye fruit is both a food and medicine. It can be cooked with various meats, and it has the effects of nourishing the stomach, clearing the intestines, clearing heat and dampness, and improving eyesight, especially suitable for consumption in the southern climate.
Phoenix eye fruit itself has the effect of warming the stomach and invigorating the spleen, and relieving irritability and reducing fire. It is a rare ingredient. So, how can phoenix eye fruit be used in cooking? The answer is that it can be steamed, boiled, roasted, and braised, and it can also be used to make sugar water and soup.
Phoenix eye fruit is mostly stewed and soaked. Among them, stewed chicken with phoenix eye fruit is the most classic dish.
[Requirements for planting phoenix eye fruit]
Phoenix eye fruit is very low-yielding and it is very difficult to commercially plant on a large scale. Therefore, there are not many plantings and they are rare fruits in Lingnan. Due to the low annual yield of phoenix eye fruit and the decline of the sacrificial customs, there are very few orchards with large-scale plantings, only sporadic plantings.
Phoenix eye fruit likes sunlight and warm and humid climates, and it does not have strict requirements on soil. Although it can grow well in barren and sandy soil, sandy loam with good drainage and deep soil is the best. It requires sufficient sunlight and prefers high temperature and humidity, with an optimum temperature for growth of about 23-32°C.
According to the growth habits of phoenix eye fruit trees, they are resistant to waterlogging but not drought-tolerant, commonly known as "mango in sunny days, phoenix eye fruit in rainy days". Therefore, during flowering and fruiting, water should be irrigated frequently to keep the soil moist; in case of drought, the entire crown should be sprayed with water to help flowering and increase the number of fruits.
The cultivation of phoenix eye fruit is very simple, especially after planting and shaping, the management is more extensive. The phoenix eye fruit trunk has a strong ability to sprout, and it should be properly pruned to remove the upper part of the high main branches, promote the sprouting of lateral branches, and make the entire tree shape oval, which is beneficial for fruiting and harvesting.
