Eect of steam blanching on drying characteristics of Jin Yin Hua, the flower bud of Lonicera japonica Thunb

Lonicera japonica Thunb. (family Caprifoliaceae) is native to East Asia including China, Japan and Korea. Its flower bud, Jin Yin Hua in Chinese, is traditionally used as a health food and a crude drug (Shang et al., 2011). Traditionally, it was dried in the open air, which is a time-consuming process. Sulphur fumigation could successfully accelerate its drying and overcome the browning phenomenon, however it was forbidden in China for the residue of sulphur and unpleasant odour.