Content
- Is the Indian balsam edible?
- The edible plant parts of Indian balsam
- So collect the seeds of Indian balsam
- Edibility of the plant parts:
- Tips
Both seeds and flowers of Indian balsam are edible
Is the Indian balsam edible?
As with many other wild herbs, the question also arises with the Indian balsam: Is it poisonous or edible? Or is this even a medicinal herb? The questions can all be answered with Yes.
That sounds confusing at first, but it's easy to explain. Both stems and leaves contain abundant glycosides. Consumption of the raw herb is therefore not beneficial to health. Larger quantities are toxic. Possible symptoms of poisoning include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal spasms and dizziness.
The edible plant parts of Indian balsam
Edible are the pretty flowers and seeds of Indian balsam. The flowers can be used very well as an edible decoration for a cold buffet, salads or cheese platters. Frozen in small containers with water you get decorative ice cubes for your summer punch.
The seeds taste more or less nutty depending on the degree of ripeness. The more mature they are, the more pronounced is their taste. They contain a lot of oil and could even be used for oil production. This is relatively expensive. Roasted in a pan without oil, the seeds jump up, much like popcorn. Then they taste like french fries.
So collect the seeds of Indian balsam
The spring herbs have their name from the seed capsules that spring open at the slightest touch. So they hurl their seeds several meters and can spread easily and very widely, especially since the seeds remain germinable for many years. So it's important to avoid collecting them while they are collecting seeds.
The easiest way to do this is to carefully pull a large bag over the plant with the ripe seed pods. Then bend the plant down slightly and hold the bag tightly around the stem. As soon as you touch the balsam from the outside, the seed capsules jump up and the seeds in the bag.
Edibility of the plant parts:
Tips
When roasting in a pan, the seeds of balsam live up to their name. They jump up like popcorn. Try it out!