This Flower Can Alter Your Tasting Experience, Here's How To Use It

How to use Szechuan button

Although this flower may seem intimidating to use in the kitchen, it can actually be transformed into delightful drinks and dishes. Szechuan buttons are most frequently found in cocktails, with appearances on menus at venues like The Chandelier Bar in Las Vegas. Instead of imparting a distinct flavor, the flower creates a cooling sensation in your mouth, enhancing the overall drinking experience and altering the perception of other flavors.

Bartenders often use the flower as a garnish, allowing you to control the level of tingling you experience. This aligns with the cocktail practice of garnishing drinks with their ingredients. Alternatively, the flower can be blended into cocktails, providing each sip with a pronounced cooling effect and a bubbly mouthfeel. In cocktails, this tingling sensation complements bright flavors such as citrus and mint, or it can amplify the heat of spicy ingredients like ginger.

In culinary applications, Szechuan buttons can add an intriguing twist to desserts like sorbets or any fruity dishes, enhancing their fresh flavors. The flower can be finely shredded and sprinkled over salads or raw vegetable dishes for an unexpected garnish. For sushi, consider dipping it into soy sauce infused with pieces of the flower instead of using wasabi. Dishes that benefit from a spicy condiment or topping, such as pizza, noodles, and seafood, are excellent candidates for incorporating Szechuan buttons.