The National Flower of El Salvador
Flor de Izote is the national flower of El Salvador that you can eat! The white flower only blooms during April and May, which makes it even more special. Flor de Izote is a delicate flower and has been consumed frequently since colonial times.
The Bitter Taste
In its original state, it is not recommended to eat Flor de Izote. Instead, people take time to tediously remove the white filaments inside the flower which causes the bitter flavor. A slight bitterness remains even without the filaments. The flower itself will remain slightly bitter. It is a required taste that even most locals shy away from.
Heat a pan with boiling water and let the flowers sit there for a good twenty minutes. This is to clean the flowers and make sure any bacteria or dirt goes away. Afterward let them out to dry, remove any remaining water and place them in a plastic container. Let the Flor de Izote chill in the refrigerator and once they have cooled down they are ready to eat!
You can enjoy the flower by pouring lime juice on it and adding a pinch of salt. I also enjoy mixing the lime juice with some virgin olive oil. Flor de Izote reminds me a lot about Edamame, green soybeans, from Japan.
More Treasures to Discover
Izote is just one of the amazing aspects of El Salvador. There are many other things to learn and enjoy in El Salvador. Be sure to check out our other travel blogs! If you’re interested in learning about similarities between El Salvador and Japan click here.
More Treasures to Discover
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