Osmanthus fragrans (lit.'fragrant osmanthus'), variously known as sweet osmanthus, sweet olive, tea olive, and fragrant olive, is a flowering plant species native to Asia from the Himalayas through the provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan in China, Taiwan, southern Japan and Southeast Asia as far south as Cambodia and Thailand.[3][4][5][6]
The genus name Osmanthus is composed of two Greek etymons:『οσμη』(osme) meaning “smell” and『ανθος』(anthos) meaning "flower". The specific name fragrans is a borrowing from the Latin meaning “odorous, fragrant” referring to the intense fragrance of its flowers.
It is an evergreenshrub or small tree growing to 3–12 m (9.8–39.4 ft) tall. The leaves are 7–15 cm (2.8–5.9 in) long and 2.6–5 cm (1.0–2.0 in) broad, with an entire or finely toothed margin. The flowers are white, pale yellow, yellow, or orange-yellow, small, about 1 cm (0.39 in) long, with a four-lobed corolla 5 mm (0.20 in) diameter, and have a strong fragrance; they are produced in small clusters in the late summer and autumn. The fruit is a purple-black drupe 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long containing a single hard-shelled seed; it is mature in the spring about six months after flowering.[3][4][7][8]
It is cultivated as an ornamental plantinEast Asian gardens, and gardens in Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere in the world for its deliciously fragrant flowers which carry the scent of ripe peachesorapricots.[8] A number of cultivars have been selected for garden use, with varying flower colors, such as Osmanthus fragrans 'Yanhua' with its variegated foliage and orange blooms.[3][8] Within Japan, the white- and orange-blossoming subspecies are distinguished as ginmokusei (lit. "silver osmanthus") and kinmokusei (lit. "gold osmanthus"), respectively.[citation needed]
InChinese cuisine, its flowers may be infused with greenorblack tea leaves to create osmanthus tea (桂花茶; guìhuāchá). The flowers are also used to produce osmanthus-scented jam, osmanthus cakes, dumplings, soups, and osmanthus liquor. Osmanthus jam is used as an ingredient in a type of gruel called chátāng, which is made from sorghumormillet flour and sugar mixed with boiling water. This dish is associated with the northern city of Tianjin, although it may also be found in Beijing.[citation needed]
A small jar of sweet osmanthus jam
Rice cake perfumed with sweet olive infusion
Osmanthus is also used for making many traditional Chinese desserts, such as osmanthus tangyuan with rice wine syrup.[9]
In some regions of northern India, especially in the state of Uttarakhand, the flowers of sweet osmanthus are used to protect clothes from insects.[10]
Osmanthus fragrans in full bloom (October) in Jingjiang, China
From the occasion of its blossoming, the sweet osmanthus is closely associated with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. Osmanthus wine is a traditional choice for the "reunion wine" drunk with one's family, and osmanthus-flavored confections and teas may also be consumed. Chinese mythology held that a sweet osmanthus grows on the moon and was endlessly cut by Wu Gang:[note 1] some versions held that he was forced to cut it every 1000 years lest its luxuriant growth overshadow the moon itself, others that he was obliged to cut it constantly only to see it regrow an equal amount every day.[13]
In late imperial China, the osmanthus was also associated with the imperial examinations, which were held in the 8th lunar month. The chengyu "pluck osmanthus in the Toad Palace" was a refined paraphrase for "passing the exam",[14][15][16] in part since one would attract hangers-on as if he smelled as sweet as osmanthus thereafter.[13] "Breaking the osmanthus twig and mounting the dragon" was another euphemism, in this case, for sex.[13]
^The tree was originally identified as a 桂 (guì) and described in the terms of the osmanthus. However, in English, it is often associated with the more well-known cassia (Cinnamomum cassia, now known in Chinese as the 肉桂 or "meat gui"); while, in Chinese, it has instead become associated with the Mediterranean laurel, which is now known as the 月桂 or "Moon gui", from the similar associations of victory and success.
^Zhou S.,"Flower herbal tea used for treatment of menopathies"., Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2008 28:3 (202–204)
^Lee H.-H., Lin C.-T., Yang L.-L. "Neuroprotection and free radical scavenging effects of Osmanthus fragrans.", Journal of Biomedical Science 2007 14:6 (819–827)
^ abcEberhard, Wolfram. Dictionary of Chinese Symbols: Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought, pp. 76 ff. Routledge & Kegan Paul (London), 2013. Accessed 12 November 2013.
^Brendon, Juliet & al. The Moon Year: A Record of Chinese Customs and Festivals, p. 410. Kelly & Walsh, 1927. Reprinted Routledge (Abingdon), 2011. Accessed 13 November 2013.
^Zdic. "蟾宫折桂". 2013. Accessed 13 November 2013. (in Chinese)
^杜近芳 [Du Jinfang]. 《红楼梦汉英习语词典》 ["A Dictionary of Chinese Idioms in the Dream of the Red Chamber"]. 2003. Accessed 13 November 2013. (in English) & (in Chinese)
