Food - Drink
The Cocktail Flower Garnish That Can Backfire In A Big Way
By DEBORAH MARTIN
A small golden flower is making big waves in the world of cocktails due to its ability to heighten your sense of taste. Known as the Acmella oleracea, the Szechuan button, or the buzz button, this flower garnish can seemingly change your cocktail’s flavor, texture, and even temperature, but it’s not without its drawbacks.
Buzz buttons can be overwhelming — as they activate your salivary glands, you may experience an electric burst that some people have compared to sticking your tongue to a live battery. This sensation is followed by numbness and tingling, which may cause a person to panic or, if they’re sensitive to the flower, drool excessively.
However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try these flowers, rather that you might want to ingest them incrementally. For instance, Las Vegas mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini has transformed dried buzz buttons into a cocktail rim powder known as Electrodust, which may be an easier way to enjoy this truly unique cocktail experience.