Edible Lily Bulbs - How to plant and eat.

Not many people known about Edible Lily Bulbs

Below are some informations about this delicious and nutritional foods in Japan and China.

Lily bulbs (ゆり根 or Yurine in Japanese)|( Bai He in Chinese) are the root part of the lily flower. It is used as an ingredient in chawanmushi (savory egg custard) and in simmered dishes in kaiseki cuisine (traditional Japanese dining). It can also be simply eaten fried or baked in butter. It also pairs well with eggs and dairy products, and can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes such as Chinese and Western cuisine and sweets.

Lily bulbs are very delicate, so when transporting them, they are packed carefully buried in sawdust. When using lily bulbs, rinse the sawdust with water and peel the bulbs off one by one.

Nutrition facts

While the main component of lily bulb is starch, it also contains protein. In addition, lily bulb has a high potassium content, which helps excrete salt and suppress high blood pressure; iron, which is essential for blood production; and phosphorus, which strengthens bones and teeth. It is also rich in folic acid, which is essential for the production of red blood cells and the healthy development of a fetus. Lily bulb is also rich in dietary fiber, which aids digestion and is effective in preventing constipation. It is particularly characterized by its high content of water-soluble dietary fiber called glucomannan.

Since both potassium and folic acid are water-soluble, cooking methods of lily bulbs such as steaming, microwave cooking, and in soup to be eaten together with broth are suitable. In addition, as lily bulb contains a lot of water-soluble dietary fiber, eating it with vegetables that contain a lot of insoluble dietary fiber will help maintain intestinal health. in the leaves is fat-soluble, so the absorption rate increases.

What is the name: Yurine or Bai He ?

Yurine is the edible bulb of the lily plant, most commonly the Lilium longiflorum and Lilium brownii varieties. Yurine, known as bai-he in China, is grown and appreciated for its flower worldwide, but is consumed almost exclusively only in Japan and China. Yurine is a time-consuming crop, taking six years to fully mature. Farmers face years of cultivation before maturation alongside the labor of hand transplanting each bulb annually to ensure bulb size and shape uniformity.

Yurine has its origins in China, with Japanese farmers have been cultivating them since the 17th century(Edo period). Ninety five percent of Yurine is produced in Makkari, Hokkaido and 70% of Yurine is consumed in the Kansai area. It is said that Chinese and Japanese are the only people who consume Yurine worldwide."

In China the most favorite Edible Lily bulbs name Lan Zhou. It is the name of area grow Lily bulb in China. It is hard to find original Lan Zhou products in US. But Lanzhou or Yurine maybe the same variety, they are diferent taste because of being grown in differents location.

Applications

The color of fresh Yurine is creamy white. The surface ramenta is firm and should be tightly closed, much like garlic. You might find Yurine that is already broken apart in a package at a store, however it is better to buy it whole in a box of sawdust. Fresh, whole Yurine in a box of sawdust can be stored in a refrigerator for up to a month. If there is no sawdust, you can wrap Yurine in newspaper and store it in a refrigerator. It is important to make sure the newspaper is not wet, Yurine becomes weak when exposed to moisture. A Yurine that is already broken apart can be cooked in boiling water with some salt for 1 to 2 minutes or it can be steamed, then stored in a freezer for later use. Yurine should be broken into pieces before starting to cook.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Yurine is a lily bulb that has been eaten for its medicinal properties for many centuries. Yurine is a popular ingredient in Japanese New Year dishes. In addition, it is often used for Kyoto style tea-ceremony dishes, but it is not considered the regions traditional vegetable. Yurine is made out of 3 Japanese kanji characters. The first character means one hundred, the second character means overlaps and the third kanji character means root, despite the fact Yurine is not a root. It is said the name comes from it’s shape which is made out of many overlapping leaves.

HOW TO GROW?

To grow Bai He (Japanese or Chinese edible lily, often called Yurine in Japanese cuisine), plant firm, fresh bulbs in the fall or spring in light, loamy, and well-draining soil. Bury the bulbs about 6–8 inches deep in a sunny or partially shaded area, and water lightly.

Key Growing Requirements

• Soil: Use loose, organic soil with a pH around 6.0. Excellent drainage is non-negotiable, as the bulbs will rot in waterlogged dirt.

  A recommended mix:

  • Compost

  • Pine bark fines

  • Coco coir or peat moss

  • Perlite or coarse sand for drainage

  Raised beds are strongly recommended because the bulbs rot easily in wet soil.

  
  

• Depth & Spacing: Dig a hole 2–3 times as deep as the bulb is tall (roughly 6–8 inches). Space them about 6–12 inches apart. If planting in pots, choose at least an 8-inch deep container.

• Sunlight: They thrive in full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of sunlight daily is ideal).

• Watering: Water consistently so the soil stays moist but never soggy. Mulch the base of the plant to retain cool soil temperatures during the hot summer months

• Fertilizer

  • Use compost and well-aged organic fertilizer before planting.

  • During growth, apply a balanced fertilizer with moderate nitrogen.

  • Too much nitrogen causes excessive leaf growth and smaller bulbs.

  • Potassium and phosphorus help enlarge the bulb.

  Many growers also mulch with straw or leaves to keep the soil cool and moist.

  
  

Tips: Important !

• Need to cover roots by mulch to keep the root cool.

• For edible bulb production:

  • Remove flower buds early.

  Reason:

  • This forces the plant to direct energy into enlarging the underground bulb instead of producing flowers and seeds.

  This is one of the most important commercial growing techniques for large edible lily bulbs.

  
  

Here is flower of Yurine| Bai He or Lily Bulb look like:

Like I mentioned above, it took 5-6 years to harvest Yurine. It is long time. Here is picture of Yurine in Japan:

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