HAWTHORN - CHINESE HAW

Common Name: Chinese Haw
Vernacular Names: Shan Zha
Botanical Name: Crataegus pinnatifida
Specimens From: China

Chinese haw is just one of the many species in the hawthorn group of fruits (Crataegus genus). It is found mainly in China and Korea.

Chinese haw is a small fruit, about the size of a small crabapple. It is red and dotted with numerous small light brown spots. There are four to five odd shape seeds, clustering mostly in the center of the fruit.

It can be eaten out of hand. It has a mealy texture and tastes slightly bitter and sour. The skin is edible but it is even more bitter. Also available in the jar form where the fruits are preserved in sweet syrup.

Chinese Haw, Dried


There are also the sun-dried, slices of haw which are used in drinks or cooking.









Chinese Haw Drink

Put five to ten slices of haw in a glass and pour boiling water into it. Cover it and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes to get the full aroma out of the dried haws.

You may also add dried red dates and/or goji berries to sweeten it. Or add chinese tea or any tea leaves to make a hot haw tea instead.











Haw Flakes, Haw Jellies, Haw Balls

Various haw candies shown on the left. The ever popular "haw flakes" that comes in several disc sizes. The "haw jelly" also comes in several shapes and is a little soft, like jelly when you bite on it. And the "haw ball" which is round like a marble and it is coated with sugar. It is the sweetest of the three type of candies.

During winter, the candied skewer version is extremely popular in Northern China. About ten fruits are skewed on a bamboo skewer and coated with boiled, hardened sugar. Needless to say, it is very sweet!

Chinese haw is traditionally used in improving blood circulation, digestive aid and slimming diet (claimed), among the several medicinal usages.


Fruit: Chinese Haw; Crataegus pinnatifida; Malinae; Maleae; Amygdaloideae ; Rosaceae.


View other fruits in the same family: Rosaceae [Rose Family].


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