Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides

flower

White flowers with a jasmine scent, in tempura or in tea; the dried fruit colors Japanese sweet potatoes and rice yellow.

Origin

China and Japan

Season (United States)

June to August

Preparation

The fruit is used as a coloring, in small amounts: taken for a long time and in quantity, it has been linked to a disease of the intestinal veins.

Did you know?

The fruit's yellow is crocin, the same pigment as saffron's.