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Balloon Flower
The Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is also known as Chinese Bell Flower or Japanese Bell Flower. In Korea, the root is called “Doraji.” This perennial is a member of the Campanulaceae family and is known for its large balloon-shaped blossoms typically blue, pink or white. It prefers well-drained, sandy loam soil with organic matter. The culinary and medicinal value of this plant is in the tuberous root, which has long been used as an anti-inflammatory to treat colds throughout Asia. The root is harvested in the second or third year and is considered to offer many of the benefits of ginseng at a lower cost. Doraji is found in a number of Korean dishes and salads, often in recipes that compensate for the root’s bitterness with additional hot pepper.
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