Ginkgo Biloba

Ingredient Name: Ginkgo Biloba, Maidenhair Tree
Traditional Chinese Name: 白果 (bái guǒ), 銀果 (yínguǒ)
What is this?
- The internal seed of the Gingkos trees (usually peeled and cored)
- Extremely common in western cultures used as supplements (usually in powder or pill form)
- Very commonly found in Asian countries and believed to have originated in China
- Seeds are similar size and shapes to almonds and are pale-yellow / beige in colour
How do I prepare it?
- If using fresh ginkgo bilobas, break shell, boil in hot water for about 5-8 minutes (or until cooked) and immediately remove the outer skin while still warm
- Use a toothpick to poke out the internal part of the seed (long portion – which is bitter)
- For pre-cooked and packaged ginkgo bilobas, simply wash in cool water and use
Where can I buy this?
- You can purchase fresh seeds (that required boiling and peeling) from Asian supermarkets
- They also come in pre-packaged (peeled and cooked) for your cooking convenience
What is the cost?
- One pack of around 20 seeds cost around $10 HKD from the wet mart
Any benefits?
- Beneficial to memory and used as a concentration enhancer
- Ideal for increasing blood flow and kill free radicals in the body (that cause aging and heart diseases)
Any precautions?
- Pregnant women should NOT consume gingko biloba seeds as it can potentially harm the fetus
- Children should also avoid high consumption of seeds as it is said to be poisonous
- May cause dizziness and headaches
- Should not be consumed by people who have allergies to poison ivy or mangos
References?