Western ginseng, also known as American ginseng or Panax quinquefolius, is a medicinal herb known for its ability to tonify Qi (vital energy) and nourish Yin (body fluids). It contains various nutrients and possesses both Qi-tonifying and Yin-nourishing properties. It is a precious herb in traditional Chinese medicine and is commonly seen in daily life. Is it true that Western ginseng tastes very bitter? What does genuine Western ginseng taste like?
Is it true that Western ginseng tastes very bitter?
Not necessarily.
Western ginseng has a cool nature and a sweet, slightly bitter taste. The taste of imported Western ginseng may differ from that of domestically produced Western ginseng. Imported Western ginseng has a stronger aroma and a bitter-sweet taste. Just because Western ginseng tastes very bitter does not mean it is fake. The authenticity of Western ginseng should be determined through multiple aspects.
How to distinguish genuine Western ginseng from fake ones?
Observe the color
The surface of Western ginseng is light yellow or yellowish-white with numerous skin wrinkles. The flesh is delicate, and there are horizontal pores on the surface, which are thick and protruding. Fake Western ginseng has a color of yellowish-brown or yellowish-white, with horizontal pores that are relatively slender.
Feel the texture
The surface of Western ginseng has dense circular and longitudinal wrinkles, irregularly distributed, and relatively thick and deep. Fake Western ginseng only has coarse horizontal wrinkles, with shallow and intermittent patterns.
Compare the density
Genuine Western ginseng has a solid texture and feels heavy when held in hand. In contrast, Western ginseng that is counterfeited with fresh or sun-dried ginseng has a loose texture and feels lighter, giving a sense of floating when held in hand.
Listen to the sound
Genuine Western ginseng is hard and not easy to cut. When it is cut, it produces a crisp sound, and the cross-section is relatively neat. Fake Western ginseng has a relatively loose texture and is easy to cut, with less distinct crisp sound and more apparent cracks on the cross-section.
What does genuine Western ginseng taste like?
It has a slightly bitter and sweet taste.
Genuine Western ginseng has a white surface, a hard texture that is not easy to break, a unique smell, and a slightly bitter and sweet taste. Western ginseng is originally from the United States and Canada. Imported Western ginseng has a yellowish-brown surface with fine gray-black horizontal lines, and the interior is yellowish-white with fine chrysanthemum-like patterns. The aroma of imported Western ginseng is strong and fragrant, with a slightly bitter but more pronounced lingering taste.
Is it better if Western ginseng tastes more bitter?
No.
The quality of Western ginseng available in the market varies, and there are even fake products mixed in. Therefore, it is necessary to identify when purchasing. Western ginseng has a slightly bitter and sweet taste, and it is not the case that the more bitter, the better. Imported Western ginseng has a stronger bitter-sweet taste, while domestically produced Western ginseng has a bitter taste with less sweetness and a cottony texture when chewed for a long time. Common fake Western ginseng is made from fresh or sun-dried ginseng, which has a mild sweet taste or a soy-like odor.
How to enhance the taste of Western ginseng?
Western ginseng and red jujube porridge
Ingredients:
100g of glutinous rice, 10g of dried red jujube, and 3g of Western ginseng.
Instructions:
1. Wash the Western ginseng and soak it in water overnight.
2. Cut the Western ginseng into small pieces and wash the red jujube.
3. Put the Western ginseng, red jujube, glutinous rice, and the soaking water of Western ginseng into a sand pot.
4. Add some water and simmer over low heat for 60 minutes.
Western ginseng stewed with almond and rock sugar
Ingredients:
5g of Western ginseng slices, 8 pieces of bitter almonds, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Instructions:
1. Wash and slice the Western ginseng, and add an appropriate amount of bitter almonds to a stewing pot.
2. Place the stewing pot into a boiling water pot after the water inside boils.
3. Stew for one and a half hours and add rock sugar. Continue stewing until the rock sugar melts.
