Although the plant is brittle and doesn't take much strength to break off, one must begin work at 4: 00 or 5: 00 in the morning; by the afternoon, the sun has darkened the color and reduced its market value.
雖然金針花梗嫩脆易折，採摘並不費力，但是，採金針必須起個大早，在清晨四、五點開始，趕在中午以前完成。據當地人表示，愈早採的金針品質愈好；過了中午，針蕊吸足陽光，花朵較大，烘焙出的成品顏色較暗，價錢也因此低了。