Physico-chemical characteristics of buransh (Rhododendron arboreum) -a nutritious and edible flower

The present investigation was carried out in the Post Harvest Laboratory of the Department of Food Science and Technology, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. Rhododendron arboretum is also known as Buransh. It is very attractive edible flower. The flowers used in the present study were obtained from Bhimtal town of Nainital district (Uttarakhand). The colour of Buransh petals was red. Average weight of inflorescence was 24.01 ± 3.92g and 15 ± 2.18 flowers were present in an inflorescence. Length and width of petals were 5.13 ± 0.45 and 5.88 ± 0.64 cm, respectively. The inflorescence contained 67.63 ± 3.37% edible portion. Buransh petals contained 89.28 ± 0.56, 8.5 ± 1.60, 2.69 ± 0.12, 0.80 ± 0.03 and 0.68 ± 0.04%, moisture, TSS, acid, ash and pectin, respectively. The respective content of reducing, nonreducing and total sugars was 5.16 ± 0.09, 5.46 ± 0.79 and 10.91 ± 0.86%. Petals contained 250.5 ± 3.5 mg/100g ascorbic acid and 214.35 ± 3.56 mg/100g anthocyanins.