Flower foods were, as the name suggested, dishes prepared using flowers.
The culture of flower foods had a history as long as the Incense Path. The two had developed side by side, intersecting in many ways. Some aromatics were themselves seasonings or foods, such as pepper, cinnamon, and star anise.
And so, Li Ling saw that Master Chi and his family had used various flower petals as fillings to make flower pies, whose fragrance offered endless delights.
"Did you make these yourself, Master Chi?" Intrigued, Li Ling broke open a pie and tasted it. The filling was just right, its rose fragrance carrying a hint of refreshing sweetness. The pastry had been baked to a flaky crust, crisp outside and tender within, soft and sticky without being cloying.
"Indeed. When I was young, I suffered from a strange illness. My blood and vital energy stagnated, poisonous sores grew on my body, and for a time, even my sweat stank. By a stroke of chance, I tried eating all kinds of flowers to nourish my health.
"I tried fragrant soups, Incense Drink, porridges, and pastries. I even copied the wealthy ladies in town and bathed in scented water. It truly worked wonders. After three to five years, I gradually recovered. Otherwise, who knows what state I would be in now?"
Master Chi laughed heartily and revealed this secret from his past to Li Ling.
Li Ling was astonished. Nothing about Master Chi suggested that he had once suffered from such a terrible illness.
Master Chi said, "Although I'm over seventy now, I'm still spirited and strong. That probably has something to do with eating flowers all these years."
Intrigued, Li Ling said, "There must be a method to eating flowers. Could you tell me exactly how you do it?"
Master Chi