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DOGingko nuts* are chewy, gummy, satisfying and moreish, kind of an umami popcorn flavour! *They need to be cooked and eaten in moderation.
These trees, are the oldest living species predating dinosaurs and can thrive for thousands of years. In Asia, ginkgo symbolise longevity, resilience, and endurance. They survived the atomic bombs, underscoring their representation of the enduring spirit of life.
The inner seed is not a true nut. It's a health food, used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries. *They should be eaten in moderation ( 8-10 a day). Do your own research before consumption.
The outer layer has a strong odour as it decomposes. Wearing gloves!
To process ginkgo nuts, the outer layer is washed off. When we foraged our nuts in London, most had already worn off. After roasting for fifteen minutes and pan-frying, crack the outer layer.
I hadn't knowingly tried ginkgo nuts before. I didn’t know how they grew, and it was my return to Seoul which piqued my interest. The pavement was full of them. I saw an old lady, no higher than my shoulder gathering them.
I had no idea that I would be able to forage them back in London. I had seen gingko trees before, but had never noticed any with fruit. Ordinarily I wouldn’t have foraged in such a location, but I made an exception.
Rebecca had reached out to me on Instagram before to send me some kimchi to try. Knowing she was Korean, I asked if she wanted to join me, which was the first time we’d met! It was so lovely to hear how her grandparents had foraged gingko nuts when she was a child, but she hadn’t done it since then. I thought about my Korean grandparents who I never got to meet. My mother also has memories of foraging gingko as a child in Japan.
Until last year, I had never had a Korean friend and had barely met any Koreans.
I am so grateful how serendipity, food and foraging help me forge new friendships and meaningful connections to my identity. And most of all, I feel so lucky to have found Boin. Her ability to heal and capacity for love and forgiveness inspires me every day. Through her I made wonderful friends in Korea - and when we move to Japan in March we will go via Seoul to see them!
@down2forage
