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Szechuan Buttons (aka Sechuan Buttons, Sichuan Buttons, Toothache plant) are an unusual food in that their primary use is not nutrition or flavor but rather to impart a sensation to food and drink. They possess a slightly bitter, herby flavor that isn’t unusual, but a few seconds after consuming them something very interesting begins to happen in the mouth:
Eating a few tiny petals from a Szechuan button (pinched off between thumb and forefinger or cut using a knife or shears) will lead to a tingling sensation…almost like mild voltage or bubbles from an effervescent beverage popping on the tongue. It is similar to (but much more intense than) the tingling imparted by Szechuan peppercorns, which is how this flower gets its Chinese name, despite originally being from Africa.
Part of the secret of this effect may be that these flowers contain a natural painkiller sometimes used to numb toothache (hence their other nickname: toothache plant). It is not unpleasant, but surprising, and sharing just a small pinch with friends will cause a look of confused wonder.
Applications: Szechuan buttons really excel as a cutting-edge cocktail ingredient. Bartenders appreciate its ability make drinks a more sensory experience beyond taste, smell, and appearance. The petals can also be pinched off and eaten out of hand, sprinkled onto salads or used in sorbets and ice cream.
How to Store and Share: Szechuan buttons will keep for up to 14 days in the fridge if stored in their clamshell container.
Origin: Koppert Cress in New York
Shipping Method: Fedex Overnight
Warning: Eat at your own risk.
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