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When the heat of summer approaches, it is time for the garambullo fruit, a delicacy deeply rooted in the Otomi culture and which provides all kinds of nutritional and health benefits. However, the fruits are not the only thing consumed in this valuable plant: garambullo flowers are also a great source of beneficial properties, and are used in all kinds of recipes.
If you want to learn more about what is the garambullo flower, what is it for and how to drink it, as well as the basic care of the plant, join us in this Green Ecologist article.
What is the garambullo flower
The garambullo, with a scientific name Myrtillocactus geometrizans, is a cactus plant, that is, a cactus between 2 and 7 meters high, endemic to the territory of Mexico. It takes the form of a small tree or shrub when it grows, large branching and in candlestick shape. Like many cacti, it is covered with thorns, distributed by its stems of between 6 and 8 ribs.
Despite being an endemic species, it is relatively easy to find in nurseries, and it is very successful due to its high growth speed and great resistance, requiring very little care to develop rapidly.
The garambullo flower It appears in the armpits, they can measure about 8 cm in diameter and are a beautiful light green with yellowish and whitish touches, giving the cactus an even more decorative appearance while it is wearing them. These flowers end up forming spherical fruits and shades between dark red and purple. The fruits of the garambullo are edible and highly appreciated for its flavor in the states of Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Querétaro, Puebla, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí.
What is the garambullo flower for?
The properties of the garambullo flower They are very diverse, although the most common by far is the consumption of its fruit, very sweet and used both raw and to make jams, jellies, liqueurs, ice creams and all kinds of recipes.
Among the benefits of the garambullo flower and its fruit are a high content of antioxidants, showing a quantity of these that is even higher than that of blueberries. They are also rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber, and are often used in the prevention and control of diabetes and gastritis.
Recipe with garambullo flower
If you are wondering how to take garambullo in a more elaborate way than simply eating the fruits, you have a lot of options. One of the recipes with garambullo flower most popular is the garambullo flower pancakes. Making these Mexican pancakes, a traditional dish from the Mezquital Valley, in Hidalgo, is as simple as following the steps that we give you below.
Ingredients
- 3 medium eggs
- 3 cups fresh garambullo flower
- 1/2 onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 cup of oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
- Start by washing the fresh garambullo flowers, just as you would any other fresh vegetable or fruit. Wash them with plenty of water and let them drain for a few minutes, while you finely chop the half onion and peel the garlic clove, which is convenient to cut in half. If you want to disinfect them, because you see them very dirty or you don't know where they come from and you prefer to do it, here we tell you how to disinfect fruits and vegetables in an ecological way.
- Add the chopped onion along with the flowers to a large container, and add the eggs as well. Stir everything well, with a fork, adding a few small handfuls of salt and pepper as you beat everything together.
- Put oil to heat in a pan and, once it is ready, add the chopped garlic. Leave it on the fire for a minute, so that the garlic releases its essence and gives the oil flavor and aroma.
- Remove the garlic after this and you can start preparing the pancakes, each time adding a heaping tablespoon of the mixture made to the pan. Let it brown completely on one side before turning, and it's done.
- Let the pancakes rest on absorbent paper that removes the excess oil, and serve them to taste with a sauce or garnish.
Here you can see the more detailed recipe: Garambullo flower pancakes recipe.
Caring for the garambullo flower
The garambullo is a very undemanding cactus in its care, but as always, it is better to have a good idea of what kinds of things it needs to be able to grow it better and without problems.
- Location: like most cacti, in full sun, preferably outdoors.
- I usually: drainage as best as possible is very important.
- Irrigation: in summer it will need waterings every 48 hours, especially if it is grown in a pot. In the cold months, one or two weekly waterings will be enough.
- Weather: ideally not below 8ºC, although strong and adult specimens can tolerate light frosts.
- Multiplication: by seeds or by cuttings. Better to do them in the warm months.
- Fertilizer: specific for cacti, once a month.
In this guide you can learn more about the care of a cactus in general.
If you are also wondering, how long does it take for a garambullo to grow, in about 5 years You can approximately have an adult specimen that is mature enough to start bearing flowers and fruits, although the time may be longer in a pot.
If you want to read more articles similar to Flor de garambullo: what is it, what is it for and imagesWe recommend that you enter our Healthy Eating category.
