Chinese Fruits

You can find the round shape Asian pears in major supermarkets around July to October from California, Washington, and Oregon. Asian pears are native to northern China and widely grown for edible fruits.

Good selection of Asian pears should be picked by smell rather than firmness because Asian pearls are ripe even when they are very firm when touch.

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Another type of Asian pear is called Ya Pear or Chinese white pear. Ya in Chinese means "duck." It's called duck pear in Chinese due to its mallard-like shape.

Color of Ya Pear is either white or light yellow with a some tiny black or brown dots. It tastes like a mixture of a rose and a pineapple. It's very crunchy and juicy. Its higher water and lower sugar content makes it a healthy fruit.

Ya pears are more common and popular in China than the round shape Asian pear because Chinese people believe Ya pear can help relieve cough, reduce production of mucus and regulate lung and stomach function so it's an ingredient widely use in Traditional Chinese Medicine for cough remedy.

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Dragonfruit has a weird but colorful shape. It's often grown in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central America, and South America. The Dragonfruit plant is actually a type of cactus. Dragonfruit is a healthy fruit due to its low calories content but rich in nutrient benefits which contains good source of Vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, fiber and antioxidants.

Good selection of Dragonfruit is bright and even-colored skin tone. Signs for over-ripe Dragonfruit include: lots of blotches and very dry or brittle brown stem or leaves. When you squeeze the Dragonfruit in your hand, it should give you a little like a ripe kiwi feeling but should not be too soft. If it's very firm when pressing, it needs a few more days to ripe.

Dragongruit's season usually runs from April to November, however you see them more often in fall season. I often find it in China town or Chinese supermarket here in USA.

Goji berries grow in China, Mongolia and in the Himalayas in Tibet. They are often found dried that look like red raisins. Goji berries are considered one of the super fruits because it's a good source of antioxidants, dietary fiber, essential amino acide and good monounsatgurated fat.

Goji berries have been used in Traditional Chinese herbal medicine for over 5000 years to:

* protect the liver
* help eyesight
* improve sexual function and fertility
* strengthen the legs
* boost immune function
* improve circulation
* promote longevity

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Longan is called dragon eye in Chinese. Its brittle light brown skin encloses translucent, juicy soft flesh around a single large, black inedible pit that looks like an eye, so that's how it gets its name. Longan is very sweet and juicy. It can be eaten either raw, dry, or cooked. Chinese people use Longan for soups, desserts, snacks, or traditional herb medicine. Longan is used as remedy for stomach ache, insomnia, amnesia, and dropsy.

Lychee is a tropical fruit native to China. The Lychee's skin is covered by pink or red, roughly textured rind that is inedible but easily removed to expose a layer of sweet, translucent white flesh. The harvest season is summer and it's very tasty. In ancient China, Lychee only grew in southern part of China so only the king had the privilege to enjoy it.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Lychee is known for being a fruit with "hot" properties, as a result, excessive consumption of Lychee can lead to sore throat, fainting spells or skin rashes.

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