Red Chinese Mulberries
Estimated Inventory, bskt : 0
This item was last sold on : 10/24/24
Description/Taste
Red Chinese mulberries are brightly colored fruits that grow on deciduous trees. They have a rounded, slightly irregular shape with occasional bulges that measures approximately 2.5 to 5 centimeters in diameter. Their exterior resembles a lychee or raspberry, with bumpy, wrinkled skin that ranges in color from red to maroon. These fruits have a juicy, rich red flesh that contains three to six brown edible seeds. When fully ripe they have a soft, chewy texture and a distinctly sweet taste. Red Chinese mulberries possess a watermelon-like flavor with hints of fig and cantaloupe.
Seasons/Availability
Red Chinese mulberries are available in the fall.
Current Facts
Red Chinese mulberries are botanically classified as Cudrania tricuspidata and belong to the Moraceae family, which includes breadfruit, jackfruit, and figs. This variety is also commonly referred to as Che fruit, Cudrang, Mandarin Melon Berry, Silkworm Thorn, and Chinese Che. They are technically not berries but rather aggregates of tiny fleshy drupes clustered around a single stem. Red Chinese mulberries grow on trees that can reach heights of six meters. They are native to Central Eastern China and encompass many fruit varieties, including Shangri-La, Red Himalayan, and Taman mulberries. Red Chinese should not be confused with American Red mulberries, which are an entirely different genus and species. The wood from Red Chinese mulberry trees can be used to make paper, yellow dyes, and utensils. The trees bloom small cream-colored flowers in the summer and are often used as an ornamental. Their mulberry fruits make the trees appealing for feeding deer and silkworms, as well as for various culinary uses.
Nutritional Value
The nutritional value of Red Chinese mulberries is not widely known, but they have similar nutritional benefits as common mulberries. These fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is essential for immune function, skin health, and collagen production. They provide vitamin K1, helping with blood clotting and bone health, and vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress. The iron in mulberries supports red blood cell production, thereby enhancing oxygen transport throughout the body, while its potassium maintains healthy blood pressure and proper muscle and nerve function. Mulberries are also rich in anthocyanins, natural pigments with potent antioxidant properties that can help reduce inflammation.
Applications
Red Chinese mulberries are frequently consumed when they're soft and almost overly ripe but can also be cooked, preserved, or frozen. They may be used in many of the same recipes as common mulberries. Fresh Red Chinese mulberries are tossed into fruit bowls, smoothies, cocktails, granola bowls, yogurt parfaits, and green salads. They're also incorporated into baked goods like pastries, pies, fruit cakes, and tarts or used as a topping for any of these desserts. Mixing the ripe fruit in a blender and straining out the seeds yields a bright red juice that can be mixed with coconut milk, mint coolers, milkshakes, mojitos, lassis, and green juices. Red Chinese mulberries pair well with ingredients like cream cheese, custard, peanut butter, almonds, bananas, apples, oranges, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, plums, apricots, mangos, chocolate, coriander, and basil. The fruit will stay fresh for about two weeks if stored unwashed in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Mulberries have a millennium-long history in Beijing, China dating back to the Eastern Han dynasty. A legend about the founding emperor of this dynasty, Liu Xiu, explains that when he was ambushed by a rival faction, he hid in a grove of mulberry trees. When these enemies ran into the forest where he was hiding, a gust of wind caused a pile of mulberries to fall on the ground in front of them. They were so distracted by the unfamiliar fallen fruit and their potential value that Liu Xiu was able to quietly escape. He then declared mulberries a royal fruit for saving his life, and they were highly valued for dynasties to come.
Geography/History
Red Chinese mulberries are native to Central Eastern China and are also frequently grown in Nepal, Korea, and Japan. As a fruit native to mountainous areas, they are cold-hardy but thrive in environments with full sun exposure and tolerate temperate climates as well. Red Chinese mulberries grow wild in rocky areas, roadsides, and mountain slopes and are cultivated in home gardens. The Silk Road brought all mulberries, including the Red Chinese species, into global commerce. Red Chinese mulberries arrived in France and England in the late 1800s and were established in the United States by the early 20th century. These fruits are more commonly foraged from the wild or grown from seed than found in large grocery stores. When produced commercially, they are most likely available at specialty stores or farmers' markets, particularly those focused on East Asian fruits.
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