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The term 桂花 is generally reserved for compounds. The tree and the flowers are usually distinguished within Japan between the white-blossoming 銀木犀(ginmokusei, “silver osmanthus”) and the orange-blossoming 金木犀(kinmokusei, “gold osmanthus”), with the latter being more popular.
桂花茶(keikacha): sweet osmanthus tea, a tea flavored with sweet osmanthus blossoms
桂花醤(keikashō): sweet osmanthus sauce, a sweet sauce flavored with sweet osmanthus blossoms
桂花陳酒(keika chinshu): sweet osmanthus wine, an aged white wine flavored with sweet osmanthus blossoms
Etymology 2
From a Chinese legend that the phases of the moon were caused by kei trees (桂, general name for Lauraceae and other fragrant trees), which would bud, blossom, then drop their flowers and leaves again as if in accelerated seasons. Literally, “kei flower”, likening the phases of the moon to the budding and blooming of the trees.[1]