Eating Orchids (Dendrobium)

[Marco]

So this past weekend I was able to elude hurricane Irene by attending my girlfriend's friend's wedding. In my half drunken stupor, to keep myself entertained, I was able to coerce my GF and her friend, which was visiting from the Philippines, to eat some Dendrobium's that was used to garnish our salads. After eating about 3 flowers I was able to get them to sample it as well. My GF is on the right.

After the whole ordeal, evidenced by their facial expressions, it's safe to say that they didn't like it. But they were able to hold it down.

 

[JeanLux]

How are they looking right now? Did they survive! ? Jean

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

Dendrobium flowers are sold in my local market in the produce section. I've also gotten them in restaurants with some desserts. I've eaten them..they are actually very slightly spicy, and have a nice texture...but are otherwise totally unremarkable. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat them.

 

[paphioboy]

I find them slightly sourish, but it is the texture I don't quite like. Slimy.. LOL

 

[poozcard]

Don't you think it is too dangerous to eat?
You can imagine how much pesticide has been used.

 

[NYEric]

Marco got married!? Congrats! :crazy:

 

[Candace]

Don't you think it is too dangerous to eat?
You can imagine how much pesticide has been used.

That would worry me too. I would suspect there are very few "organic" dendrobium growers. Systemic pesticides in commercial g.h's are the norm. I think I'd pass unless I knew for sure how and where it was grown.

 

[NYEric]

really!? what do you think is in your food!?

 

[Candace]

really!? what do you think is in your food!?

Not systemic pesticides, Eric.

 

[Ernie]

QTs.

 

[NYEric]

Not systemic pesticides, Eric.

If you eat meat or fruits and veggies from the supermarket, you are consuming enough chemicals per month, hormones, fertilizers, insecticides, protectants, etc, to actually have a detectable weight! Trust me on this one!

 

[Candace]

If you eat meat or fruits and veggies from the supermarket, you are consuming enough chemicals per month, hormones, fertilizers, insecticides, protectants, etc, to actually have a detectable weight! Trust me on this one!

Not to get into it with you, but we grow a good percentage of our own veggies and fruit and eat organic otherwise. Similarly, the meat we eat is carefully screened. There are those of us who actually monitor and care what we put in our mouths.

 

[Marco]

Well safe to say I'm still alive. So I think they were ok. Also, this wasn't an everyday thing. I just wanted to prove a point that they were edible.

Eric - No marriage...not yet at least. I have a long ways to go.

Jean - We are all safe and sound. I was more so worried about Irene that than a couple of dends we ate.

 

[NYEric]

Not to get into it with you, but we grow a good percentage of our own veggies and fruit and eat organic otherwise. Similarly, the meat we eat is carefully screened. There are those of us who actually monitor and care what we put in our mouths.

OK, fair enough. My motto is "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" -NYEric AKA the Toxic Avenger

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

While agree that I do not trust dendrobium flowers, assuming that the pesticide situation would be bad, keep in mind...nobody is eating a dendrobium salad. These things end up as decorations on a plate. While I have eaten them, I have not eaten more than a bite. While I don't live in fear of potential pesticides, I do eat organic when possible (although my reasons for eating organic are more environmental than health oriented), certainly eat my own produce (last September's tornado/microburst has enabled me to finally eat cucumbers and tomatoes again), my taste of dendrobium inspired no fears. But as I said, it was a taste. No meals here!

 

[cnycharles]

i've read that in australia, that kangaroos will come running (well, bouncing) if they hear chainsaws and trees falling; after a few hours there are only roots left of dendrobiums. careful eating some orchids, they can have emetic properties! (think exlax)

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

Well, I could say "I don't give a ****!", but if it has those properties, I think I would!

 

[Lanmark]

Many Dendrobiums are grown organically today for the specific purpose of producing edible flowers (pollinia removed) for use in salads and as garnishments for desserts and other dishes. They are a commercial food crop.

 

[hchan]

I don't know about dendrobiums, but extrafloral nectar in general is nice though. I like to eat it from my cymbidium in the office, have to do it when no-one is looking though, so they don't think I'm weird...

 

[NYEric]

Shhhh, the people here who don't know will give you a hard time!