What is Peony Seed Oil?
The peony in the courtyard is wild and untamed, the lotus in the pond is pure and sentimental. Only the peony truly represents the national beauty, its bloom enchanting the capital. As early as the late Qing Dynasty, the peony was recognized as my country’s national flower. Known as the “national beauty and heavenly fragrance,” the peony symbolizes peace, happiness, prosperity, and has always been deeply loved by the people.
my country is particularly rich in peony resources, but the largest and most concentrated cultivated area is in Heze, Shandong Province. Heze, Shandong Province, is China’s main peony production area, with a 1,500-year history of peony cultivation. Since ancient times, it has enjoyed the reputation of “Caozhou peonies are the best in the world.”
Heze, Shandong Province, enjoys abundant year-round sunlight and heat, with simultaneous rain and heat, ideal for peony growth. Heze’s peony cultivation area has reached 250,000 mu (approximately 1,237 acres), boasting nine color systems, ten flower shapes, and 1,237 varieties, making it the world’s largest peony production, research, sales, and ornamental center.
Peonies have bloomed for thousands of years, with thousands of varieties. Beyond ornamental purposes, only two varieties produce seeds for edible oil: Fengdan and Ziban.
Peony seed oil, also known as peony oil, is a woody nut oil extracted from peony seeds. It has a yellow to golden color and possesses the delicate fragrance of fresh peony flowers. Peony seed oil is also a blood vessel scavenger, and therefore is considered by many experts to be the world’s finest oil.
Why is peony seed oil expensive?
Peonies are woody plants, unlike herbaceous plants that produce oil. Oil-producing peonies require more than two years of cultivation, and their seeds require ample sunlight and rain to mature. This oil crop is extremely demanding in terms of temperature, humidity, and light.
In the peony seed oil industry, there’s a saying: “Three thousand peonies for one drop of oil,” which underscores the preciousness and difficulty of extracting peony seed oil.
Oil-producing peonies bloom in April and their seeds are harvested in August. Extracting peony seed oil differs from traditional soybean and peanut extraction methods, requiring a highly technological process involving de-podding and shelling.
The complexity of the extraction process, coupled with the low yield of oil-producing peonies, results in a very low yield of peony seed oil. Even in Heze, the largest producer, only about 30,000 tons of peony seed oil are produced annually, compared to 3.45 million tons of peanut oil. This demonstrates the limited availability and preciousness of peony seed oil.
Benefits of Peony Seed Oil
As a new edible oil, peony seed oil has been marketed for less than seven years, but it has become extremely popular in the market because its fatty acid structure is particularly beneficial for adolescent growth.
Additionally, the linoleic acid in peony seed oil can reduce wrinkles, leaving skin smooth, supple, and elastic, significantly impacting the development of infants and young children. It’s no exaggeration to say that the nutritional value of peony seed oil is unmatched by other edible oils. Due to its exceptional nutritional value, it’s even been called drinkable “gold.”
Finally, peony seed oil has another unique characteristic: its smoke point, higher than that of ordinary cooking oils, is around 220 degrees Celsius. This reduces harmful substances produced by high heat when cooking, making stir-fries healthier.
Peony seed oil can be consumed in a variety of ways, not only in stir-fries but also in salad dressings and soups. Its inclusion in dishes makes them both visually appealing and nutritious.
This precious gift from nature, peony seed oil, is valued for its respect for life and health, and its dedication to the millennia-old culture of the Chinese nation—a principle that practitioners have always upheld.
No comment yet, add your voice below!