• The bulbous root of the lily plant which grows submerged in some depth in the soil
• It is an edible, starch-like bulb that is sweet to taste, although some species can be quite bitter
• Lily bulbs are most commonly cultivated and sold in the Chinese culture and used as a luxury or health food
• Lily bulbs are said to be cool and relieve heatiness
• Lily bulbs can be found in sweet soups, savory soups, and various Asian dishes
• If used in soups, it will thicken the soup is boiled too long since the bulb flakes will disintegrate and “melt” into the soup

How do I prepare it?

• Dried lily bulb flakes will need to be rinsed in warm water and can be directly used to soups
• Fresh lily bulbs need to be thoroughly washed as the bulbs contain a fair amount of dirt
• Ideally, remove each bulb leave and scrub under running warm water

Where can I buy this?

• You can purchase this in most Asian supermarkets dried or frozen
• At the wet mart, you can purchase this fresh from the vegetable vendors
• Chinese pharmacies will also carry this dried

What is the cost?

• A package of 3 fresh lily bulbs from the wet mart costs around $5-8 HKD/pack

Any benefits?

• Lily bulbs are said to help nourish the lungs and relieve coughs
• They are high in protein, starch and plenty of vitamins
• Lily bulbs help reduce internal heat and is often consumed in the summer months

Any precautions?

• Although lily bulbs are defined as “cool” and not “cold”, it is a precaution to consume too much if you are concerned with relieving too much heatiness (ie: for pregnant women under 3 months in term or if you are menstruating)

Additional Information?

• Frozen lily bulbs are good to keep for up to 1 months in the freezer
• Dried lily bulb flakes can kept in the fridge for up to 6 months

References:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily