Sechuan Buttons

Sechuan Buttons aka Szechuan buttons, also known as electric daisies, are edible flowers known for their unique flavor experience. When consumed, they produce a tingling or numbing sensation that comes from a compound called spilanthol. This compound stimulates the nerves on the tongue and increases salivation, creating a sensation similar to a mild electrical buzz. The flowers don’t actually burn like spicy foods but instead create an unusual and intense tingling, sometimes described as feeling like licking a live battery.

The Sechuan buttons has a variety of culinary uses, often enhancing the flavors of cocktails and dishes by amplifying other tastes. It’s commonly featured in drinks like the Verbena cocktail, where it is chewed before drinking to maximize the effect. Despite its numbing effect, it adds an intriguing flavor and texture to foods like salads, rice, and pasta.

Sechuan Buttons are an exciting and versatile ingredient, often used to add an electrifying and unique twist to various dishes and drinks. One of their most popular uses is in cocktails, where they are chewed before drinking to enhance the overall flavor experience. The numbing sensation they create can heighten the other tastes in the drink, making them especially popular in beverages.

Chefs often pair them with ingredients that complement their bold, electric effect, such as seafood, to heighten the dish’s overall complexity. Sechuan buttons can be used as garnishes or as part of a flavor experiment to add fun and novelty to a meal.

Sechuan Buttons are known for their unique medicinal properties, including natural pain-relieving, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects. These benefits stem from spilanthol, a bioactive compound in the plant that induces a tingling, numbing sensation on the tongue when consumed. This sensation, which can last up to ten minutes, stimulates salivary glands, enhances the flavors of other ingredients, and creates an electrifying taste experience.

In addition to their sensory effects, Sechuan Buttons contain antibacterial compounds that may support oral health and overall well-being. Traditionally, they have been used to help alleviate minor discomforts such as toothaches and sore throats.

To keep your Sechuan Buttons fresh and flavorful, store them properly in the refrigerator. Ideally, keep them at temperatures between 36 to 40°F.