The Buddha's Hand: A Citrus Fruit like No Other

Greetings my lovelies, hello it's Emmy welcome back to another fruity fruits today I will be tasting this this gorgeous gorgeous very unique citrus fruit that is the Buddha's hand. This fruit is unlike any other citrus fruit that you may have seen or tasted before and it's definitely worth trying if you get the chance.

The Buddha's Hand is a type of citron, which is a large citrus fruit that is native to Asia. It gets its name from its unique shape, which resembles the hands of the Buddha. The fruit is usually yellow or green in color and has a rough, bumpy skin. When it's cut open, you'll find a pithy interior with a number of small, seed-like structures called "accessory fruits" that are actually modified leaves.

As I was preparing to taste the Buddha's Hand, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and curiosity. What would this unusual fruit taste like? Would it be sweet and juicy, or sour and tart? Would it have any unique flavor profiles or textures that set it apart from other citrus fruits?

To answer these questions, I decided to try the Buddha's Hand in its raw form, without adding any juice or zest. When I took a bite, I was surprised by how tart and slightly bitter the flavor was. It was definitely not sweet and juicy like some other citrus fruits that I've tried before. However, as I continued to taste the fruit, I began to notice a subtle sweetness and a hint of floral notes that added depth and complexity to the flavor.

I also decided to try the Buddha's Hand with a little bit of sugar and water to see if it would bring out any additional flavors or textures. When I mixed the fruit with the sweet liquid, I was surprised by how well the bitterness of the fruit balanced out with the sweetness of the sugar. The resulting taste was both soothing and invigorating at the same time.

One of the things that I found most fascinating about the Buddha's Hand is its unique fragrance and aroma. When I brought the fruit to my nose, I was struck by its strong citrus scent, which was both uplifting and refreshing. In fact, I found myself feeling a sense of calm and tranquility as I inhaled the fruit's sweet, floral aroma.

In addition to its culinary uses, the Buddha's Hand also has a number of traditional medicinal properties that have been used for centuries in Asian cultures. The fruit is said to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, making it a popular ingredient in teas, tinctures, and other herbal remedies.

Now, I know what you're thinking: how do I get my hands on some Buddha's Hand? Well, the good news is that this unique citrus fruit can be found at many health food stores and specialty grocery shops in the United States. It's also available online from various retailers who specialize in exotic fruits and spices.

Candying the Buddha's Hand: A Sweet Treat

But how do you prepare a Buddha's Hand for consumption? One of my favorite ways to enjoy this unique fruit is by candying it, which involves soaking the fruit in a sweet syrup made with sugar, water, and sometimes additional ingredients like lemon juice or spices. When I decided to try candying the Buddha's Hand, I was excited to see how the process would turn out.

First, I began by preparing the fruit for candying. To do this, I cut the Buddha's Hand into thin slices and then soaked them in a mixture of water and sugar syrup. As I waited for the fruit to soak, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and excitement about what was to come.

Finally, after several hours had passed, my candied Buddha's Hand was ready. When I took it out of the syrup, I was struck by how beautiful and colorful it looked. The fruit was now translucent and slightly crystallized on the outside, while still being soft and squishy on the inside. It was truly a sight to behold.

To test my candied Buddha's Hand, I decided to bite into one of the slices. When I took a bite, I was surprised by how crunchy and sweet the texture was. The outside was definitely sugary and crunchy, while the inside remained soft and squishy. But as I continued to chew, I began to notice that there were some subtle flavor notes that added depth and complexity to the taste.

One of the things that I loved most about my candied Buddha's Hand was its ability to balance out both sweet and sour flavors at once. The outside was definitely sugary and crunchy, while the inside remained soft and squishy with a hint of tartness that balanced out the sweetness. It was truly a delightful taste experience.

I also enjoyed experimenting with different flavors and ingredients when it came to candying the Buddha's Hand. I tried adding some citrus zest or spices like cinnamon and ginger to the syrup, which added an extra layer of depth and complexity to the flavor. But no matter what combination I used, the resulting taste was always sweet and refreshing at the same time.

In the end, my experience with candied Buddha's Hand taught me that this unique fruit is truly versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you're looking for a sweet treat or an exotic culinary adventure, the Buddha's Hand is definitely worth trying if you haven't already.

Using the Buddha's Hand in Tea Blends

Another way to enjoy the Buddha's Hand is by using it in tea blends. When I was researching different ways to prepare this unique fruit, I stumbled upon some traditional tea recipes that used the Buddha's Hand as a main ingredient. I decided to try one of these recipes, and the result was truly delightful.

To make my own Buddha's Hand tea blend, I began by combining dried fruit like lemongrass and ginger with sliced fresh citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits. Then, I added some dried flowers like jasmine and rose petals for their floral notes, as well as a few slices of candied Buddha's Hand for their sweet, crunchy texture.

When I brewed the tea blend, I was struck by its unique flavor profile, which was both soothing and invigorating at once. The sweetness of the candied fruit balanced out with the tartness of the citrus fruits, while the spices added an extra layer of depth and complexity to the flavor.

One of the things that I loved most about this tea blend was its ability to promote relaxation and calmness without being too sedative or sleepy. It's perfect for sipping on a warm summer evening or as a way to unwind after a long day.

Of course, there are many other ways to use the Buddha's Hand in cooking and baking recipes beyond tea blends and candied fruit. Some people like to juice it, while others prefer to zest it and add it to salads or desserts. No matter what your preferred method is, I'm sure you'll agree that this unique fruit is definitely worth trying if you get the chance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my experience with the Buddha's Hand has been truly enlightening and fascinating. This unique citrus fruit may not be for everyone, but its tart flavor profile and crunchy texture make it a delicious and refreshing addition to any meal or snack. Whether you're looking for a sweet treat or an exotic culinary adventure, the Buddha's Hand is definitely worth trying if you haven't already.

So there you have it - my review of the Buddha's Hand, including its unique flavor profile, fragrance, and aroma, as well as recipes for candying and using it in tea blends. I hope that this experience has inspired you to try this delicious and exotic fruit for yourself, and that you'll enjoy exploring all the different ways to prepare and use it. Happy eating!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enfru fruu greetings my lovelies hello it's Emmy welcome back to another fruity fruits today I will be tasting this this gorgeous gorgeous very unusual looking fruit is called AB Buddha's hand it is a citrone which is a member of the citrus family but what's interesting about this is it doesn't really have like a juicy Center or any kind of like fleshy bits in the middle or much juice at all for that matter this is mostly piff and skin and it is so fragrant I wish you could smell this it smells like a lemon but a little bit sweeter little bit like a kind of like a grapefruit but it's just so lovely and bright and zingy and just can't get enough of it it's actually to me kind of similar in fragrance to a Yuzu which is a citrus that's yellow is as well that you can find in Japan it's round in shape though nothing like this and much smaller this buddhan is quite large it's about the size of my hand so this is native of Asia and it is Coveted for its beautiful shape that is reminiscent of Buddha's hand apparently what is more coveted though in terms of shape is the Clos version so when the fingers are more closed that is the kind of preferred shape but this is gorgeous isn't amazing each one of these little fingers and it feels just like a it's got kind of that waxy leathery thick tough skin so the first time I saw one of these actually growing on a tree was last year actually last November my family and I went back to go see my family in Southern California and we went out to Riverside and visited this beautiful historic Orange Grove and I saw one of these growing and it's incredible and then I came back trying to find one it was too late in the season so these are very seasonal these grow about this time of year which is November I found this at my whole foods and this this cost about $5 because this is mostly pith and skin which is very aromatic and doesn't really contain any juice the most common practice of using this is to Candy it or to infuse things like vodka or to make something like lemon cello today I'm going to taste it and then I'm going to make a little recipe I'm going to try candying it so I'm going to go ahead and cut it in half so you guys can see what it looks like in the Middle look at that so there's really no kind of Juicy interior or anything for that matter it's all this kind of white pith but it smells so lovely it's just happy it instantly just makes me happy smells so good it's very similar to a lemon but a little more sweet and floral one finger off here and then slice a little bit so this seems really counterintuitive in terms of eating citrus fruit we're always trying to peel the skin off of citrus but in this case it's all p TI and skin so it's kind of strange right but here we go the do Ms and in some respects it is really strange as you could hear it has a very crunchy firm texture to it just like a lemon peel would but it is not at all bitter so it's not like orange peel where you get that kind of bitter orange flavor not bitter at all in fact it's just slightly sweet kind of reminds me of when you eat like a kumquat you're like oh I shouldn't be eating the skin just in terms of the psychological experience you're having like I'm not supposed to eat the skin but it's actually very delightful unlike a kumquat that has a very tart skin this isn't tart at all it's actually tiny bit sweet but it is so fragrant it is just full of these beautiful Citrus oils that are just so so lovely so this whole candy making process takes about 24 hours including the drying time so I'm going to make it and then I will see you and taste it tomorrow so I found this recipe from All recipes.com from Good Old Chef John if you don't know Chef John let me just cu the music I'll put the recipe link down below so first thing I'm going to do is cut this up into small pieces and then we're going to boil it for about 30 minutes so first things first we're going to chop this up into little bite-sized pieces and then we're going to add it to some boiling water and allow this to boil for 30 minutes or until the flesh is nice and tender then we're going to drain it and then we're going to add 2 and 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and 2 cups of water mix This Together allow this to simmer until the syrup comes to 230° F or 110° C then we're going to remove it from the heat drain the syrup save this precious syrup so now we're going to take the drained candy fruit and spread it on onto a rack and allow it to dry after it's dried for 24 hours we're going to toss it in the remaining half2 cup of sugar get everything well coated and allow it to dry for a couple more hours until it's nice and crystallized and candy likee on the outside all right lovelies I'm back it's been a couple days and here is my finished candied Buddha's hand and it turned out beautifully here let me pour some out for you there it is isn't it beautiful and as you heard as I poured these out the sugar has hardened so they've got a bit of a harder texture on the outside but they're still Squishy in the middle kind of like a natural Gumdrop and they smell wonderful so let's give our candies a taste e the doy MOS and that's really really nice the outside is very very similar to a gumdrop it's sugary it has the crunch of granulated sugar and it kind of gives and the inside is much softer it's not quite as chewy as a gumdrop but still kind of gelled and you bite into it and it has this intense Citron flavor which is just slightly bitter which goes really well with the amount of sugar in this this is very sweet but the middle of the candy is the fruit which has that bitterness and the lovely citrusy kind of lemony flavor to it it's very very nice I feel like the sugar is very well balanced with the natural flavor of the Citron m m now that piece had a little bit more rind to it than just the pith the first one that I tasted was one of these ones these are a bit lighter in color and these are the pithier parts they're the parts that were completely white in the inside of the Buddha's hand and this one has a little bit of Darkness to it kind of like this one or this and this contains more of the Rind or the yellow part of the Buddha's hand and that has completely different flavor I shouldn't say completely different it still tastes like the delicious Citron Buddha's hand but it's more intense and I think that has something to do with the fact that this has more rind which contains most of the essential oils so it's a little bit more bitter but has much more of a fragrance and flavor to it really nice I like that there's a little bit more variety in the flavors also the pieces that contain more of the zest are also a little bit chewier in texture not as kind of gelled as the pith Parts very very sophisticated flavors in terms of just sweetness bitterness and just Aroma I think this would be perfect for the holidays this would be great in a fruit cake or even just baked into muffins and I think it'd be great in a cocktail too if you made some sort of Cosmopolitan or some kind of vodka based drink a little bit of this and a little bit of the syrup this is the syrup I actually reserved from the candy making process and it actually has kind of crystallized but it's full of the Citron flavor let me give a little taste much sweeter very very sweet because this is all sugar but it does have a nice Citron Essence to it and again you get a little bit of that bitterness as well it reminds me a little bit of bitters that you might put in apertif of course completely different flavor but a little bit of bitter and I think this would be great in a cocktail or even just a little bit of plain fizzy water or I think would be fabulous as a tea I did a video way way back in one of my thirsty videos where I had yua which is a Korean Yuzu based drink and it looks like marmalade but it's made out of Yuzu so you take a scoop of that Yuzu based marmalade and you add some hot water to it Stir It Up and you have a love lovely aromatic Citrus tea so I think that's what I'm going to use this for so there you have a little Buddha hand or a Citron taste test let me know in the comments if you've ever seen this fruit before if you've ever had it before or if you have any other uses or applications for it I all ears thank you guys so much for watching I hope you guys enjoy that one I hope you guys learned something share this video with your friends follow me on social media and I shall see you in my next one tul take care bye fruu fruu fruu FR smells so good it's good for my skin and my nose and my paws\n"