Chinese toon is the tender bud of the Chinese toon tree, known as the "vegetable on the tree". Every year in March according to the lunar calendar, it is the season when Chinese toon sprouts are on the market. There is a folk saying that goes, 'On the eighth day of the third lunar month, eat Chinese toon sprouts.'. Toon not only has a unique flavor and rich nutrition, but also has high medicinal value. 01 The nutritional value of Chinese toon. Chinese toon sprouts are rich in protein, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, carotenoids, as well as vitamins B and C, making them a rare treasure among vegetables. According to the food ingredient list, 100 grams of Toona sinensis contains 40mg of vitamin C, 0.6mg of vitamin E, and 700mg of carotene, which are natural antioxidants. Chinese toon also contains some natural phytochemicals, such as flavonoids and catechins, which have biological activities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. 100 grams of Chinese toon contains 1.8g of dietary fiber, which can promote intestinal peristalsis and improve constipation. It is a good friend of the intestines. Xiangchun is also rich in minerals, with 172mg of potassium, 96mg of calcium, 147mg of phosphorus, 3.9mg of iron, and 2.25mg of zinc in 100g of Xiangchun. Cooking with Chinese toon sprouts has excellent color and fragrance, refreshing and relieving greasiness, which can enhance appetite and help digestion. Spring sprouts from Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions are often stir fried with eggs; Shandong has fragrant Chinese toon soy sauce mixed noodles, Xi'an is famous for fried fragrant Chinese toon fish, and Yunnan has authentic fragrant Chinese toon garlic juice... These are all regional delicacies with distinctive characteristics. The medicinal value of Chinese toon has been said since ancient times that "eating Chinese toon regularly will not cause diseases". Chinese toon is not only a good vegetable, but also a good medicine, and its roots, skin, and fruit can all be used as medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that Chinese toon has a bitter taste and has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, strengthening the stomach, and regulating qi; It contains volatile aromatic organic compounds such as Toona sinensis, with a fragrant taste that can invigorate the spleen and stimulate appetite. Eating it can promote the secretion of digestive juices and increase appetite. 03 Precautions for eating Chinese toon: Spring Chinese toon should be eaten as early as possible. It is best to eat Chinese toon before the rain, and it should be eaten early, fresh, and tender; After the Grain Rain, its fibers age, the taste becomes dull, and its nutritional value is greatly reduced. After mid April, the nitrate content in most areas of Chinese toon sprouts will increase. That is to say, the more tender the Chinese toon sprouts are, the less nitrate they contain, and the less nitrite they produce during later storage. If it is already time for the leaves to fall off at a touch, a large amount of nitrite will inevitably be produced. It is necessary to blanch and scald Chinese toon for consumption. Data shows that on average, each kilogram of Chinese toon contains more than 30 milligrams of nitrite, and the amount in old leaves is as high as 53.9 milligrams per kilogram, which can easily cause nitrite poisoning. Blanching in boiling water for about 1 minute can remove more than two-thirds of nitrite and nitrate, while also better preserving the color of Toona sinensis. To reduce the intake of nitrite, when consuming, choose tender and fresh Toona sprouts, and be sure to blanch them in hot water before cooking for safety. Special populations should be cautious when consuming Chinese toon. Chinese toon contains terpenes and esters, and has a unique aroma, but may cause allergies. Sensitive individuals should be cautious when consuming it. Toon should not be consumed in excess, and it is recommended to consume no more than 100 grams per day. How to choose high-quality Toona sinensis? It is best to choose Toona sinensis with red branches and leaves, short, strong, tender, strong fragrance, no old branches and leaves, and a length of less than 10 centimeters. In addition, you can also smell the position of the root of the Chinese toon, and those with obvious Chinese toon special fragrance are the best. It's best for us to choose tender Chinese toon sprouts when purchasing. 05 Reference recipe for mixing Chinese toon with tofu ingredients: 100g of Chinese toon, 1 piece of tender tofu, a little salt, and sesame oil. Method: 1. Wash the Chinese toon sprouts and blanch them in boiling water for 1 minute. Remove and drain the water, then cut them into small pieces; 2. Cut tofu into pieces and blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds; 3. Mix the ingredients, add a little salt and sesame oil, and mix well. Serve on a plate. Ingredients for stir fried eggs with Chinese toon: 100g of Chinese toon, 3 eggs, 2g of salt, 15ml of cooking oil. Method: 1. Wash the Chinese toon and blanch it in boiling water for 1 minute. Remove and drain the water, then cut it into small pieces; 2. Crack the eggs into a bowl, add the chopped Chinese toon and salt, and stir well; 3. Pour cooking oil into a hot pot, and after the oil is hot, pour in the fragrant Chinese toon egg mixture. Fry over medium low heat until both sides turn golden brown. Serve on a plate. Soft fried Toona sinensis ingredients: 300g Toona sinensis head, 3 eggs, 50g starch, 30g flour, 5g refined salt, 3g chicken essence, 500g vegetable oil (actual consumption about 50g) Method: 1. Crack the eggs into a bowl, add refined salt, flour, and an appropriate amount of starch to make a paste; 2. Wash the Chinese toon head and blanch it in boiling water for 1 minute. Remove and drain the water, sprinkle a layer of starch and mix well; 3. Place the wok on high heat, add vegetable oil and cook until it is five cooked. Drag the Chinese toon in the prepared paste once, fry in oil until it turns pale yellow, and then remove; 4. After all the frying is done, when the oil temperature reaches 60%, put them into the pot and fry again for a moment. Remove from the pot and put on a plate. (New Society)