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The edible portion of the Japanese Raisin Tree is not the actual fruit; instead it is the stalk or ‘peduncle’ that is eaten. These small, thick stalks are a greyish-brown color and support the seed pods where the flowers once bloomed. These stalks are swollen and shorter than a typical flower stalk. The taste and texture is very similar to a dry raisin, with a hint of cinnamon.
Seasons/Availability
The stalks or “raisins” of the Japanese Raisin Tree ripens during the early fall.
Current Facts
Hovenia dulcis, or Japanese Raisin Tree is distantly related to the Jujube. This member of the Rhamnaceae (buckthorn) family is part of a small genus of seven similar Asian species that are deciduous and winter-hardy.
Applications
The edible portion of the Japanese Raisin Tree is not the actual fruit; instead it is the stalk or ‘peduncle’ that is eaten. These small, thick stalks are a greyish-brown color and support the seed pods where the flowers once bloomed. These stalks are swollen and shorter than a typical flower stalk. The taste and texture is very similar to a dry raisin, with a hint of cinnamon.
Geography/History
Native to China, Korea and Japan, Holvenia dulcis is known by many names. Japanese Raisin Tree is referred to as Chih-chu in China, Chinese Raisin Tree, and Kenpo Nashi. The peduncles of the Raisin Tree have been sold in China since pre-Confucius times. They can be found growing in the Himalayas and can resist temperatures down to minus 10°F. In the US, there are several trees that date back to the 1930s in New York, Southern California and Pennsylvania.
Fruit and Spice Park
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Japanese Raisin Tree: The edible part of the Japanese Raisin Tree is not the fruit itself but the stalk, known as the peduncle. These small, thick, greyish-brown stalks support the seed pods where flowers once bloomed. They are swollen and shorter than typical flower stalks. Their taste and texture resemble that of a dry raisin, with a subtle hint of cinnamon.
Steve Murray Jr.
Bakersfield CA 93307
+16613303396 [email protected]
Japanese Raisin Tree peduncles, not the fruit, are the edible part. These greyish-brown stalks are swollen and shorter than typical flower stalks. Their flavor is similar to dry raisins with a touch of cinnamon, making them unique in both taste and texture.
Japanese Raisin Tree spotted at Santa Monica Farmers Market….Japanese Raisin Tree, scientifically known as Hovenia dulcis, is a deciduous plant belonging to the Rhamnaceae family. It is winter-hardy and shares its lineage with jujube, as part of a genus that includes seven Asian species. Its distinctive fruit-like structures are not actual fruits but rather swollen stems that serve as edible, sweet treats.
Steve Murray
Bakersfield , 93307
+16613303396
Japanese Raisin Tree spotted at Santa Monica Farmers Market….The Japanese Raisin Tree, also known as Hovenia dulcis, is native to China, Korea, and Japan, but it can also be found thriving in the Himalayas. Its peduncles have been used in China since ancient times, even predating Confucius. Remarkably resilient, the tree can withstand temperatures as low as -10°F. In the U.S., examples of this species have been growing since the 1930s in New York, Southern California, and Pennsylvania, demonstrating its adaptability.
