Section on Trees, Volume 34

Baiya Tree

Original: Baiyashu. Literally "Barnyard Grass Sprout Tree," this likely refers to Litsea coreana or a similar species in the laurel family whose young leaves are used for tea.

Compendium of Materia Medica, Volume 3

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Yellow Mastic Tree

Original: Huangdongshu. Known today as the Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis), it is a deciduous tree valued for its high-quality timber and its edible young shoots, which are still consumed in some regions today.

The Herbal for Famine Relief Original: Jiuhuang Bencao. This landmark botanical work was published in 1406 by Zhu Xiao, a Ming Dynasty prince, specifically to help the population identify wild plants that could be eaten during times of famine. states that the Yellow Mastic Tree grows in the wild throughout the southern mountains of Zhengzhou A major historical region in modern-day Henan Province, China.. The leaves resemble those of a newly sprouted Chinese Toon tree Chunshu (Toona sinensis); a tree in the mahogany family whose fragrant young shoots are a celebrated seasonal delicacy but are significantly smaller. They also resemble the leaves of the Chinaberry Lian (Melia azedarach), though their color has a slight yellow tint.

The tree produces purplish-red flowers and bears seeds about the size of a garden pea. These seeds are green when young and turn purplish-red when they ripen.

The leaves have a bitter taste. To prepare them, gather the tender buds and leaves and blanch Original: zha. This is a traditional culinary technique involving a quick immersion in boiling water to soften the fibers and reduce bitterness. them until cooked. Change the water and soak them to remove the bitter flavor, then season with oil and salt to eat. Alternatively, the buds can be steamed and then sun-dried; prepared this way, they can also be used to brew a tea for drinking.