Mountain Ebony

Koiralaa ko phool or Mountain Ebony (Botanical Name: Bauhinia Variegata L.) is the edible flower of the Bauhinia tree. The color of the flower varies from pink-white to light mauve-purple. The tree is a medium-size evergreen with orchid-like flowers with long buds. It is grown throughout the Himalayas in high altitude areas and packed with nutrients. The unopened buds and flowers are collected from trees and can be made into a vegetable curry, a salad-like dish, or pickled, but they must be boiled before preparing. It is a popular spring flower and has become an integral part of Nepali cuisine where it has been consumed for centuries as a seasonal delicacy with unique flavor. It is also used as an Ayurvedic herbal medicine as a cure for diarrhea and dysentery.