Hawthorn Berry

Crataegus pinnatifida · Shān Zhā Warming

Tart apple-like berries rich in flavonoids and pectin, beloved in teas, sauces and after-meal drinks.

Hawthorn berries are tart, apple-like red fruits used across Asia and Europe in jams, teas and after-meal drinks. They are rich in pectin fibre and distinctive flavonoids, with a long tradition of use after heavy or fatty meals.

Nutrition Highlights

• ✓Rich in pectin, a soluble dietary fibre
• ✓Contains flavonoids including hyperoside and vitexin
• ✓Traditionally enjoyed after rich, fatty meals
• ✓Naturally tart — works in teas and sauces

Everyday Food Uses

• ●Brewed as a tang-hued after-meal tea
• ●Simmered into a low-sugar fruit sauce for oats
• ●Combined with malt in traditional digestif drinks
• ●Infused into sparkling water with a little honey

How to Enjoy

5–10 dried slices daily as tea. Simmer 10 minutes; the flavour is tart, so sweeten lightly to taste.

Modern Research

Hawthorn is one of the most studied traditional fruits: its flavonoid and oligomeric procyanidin content has been investigated in numerous trials for cardiovascular support, alongside in-vitro evidence of antioxidant activity.

⚠ Cautions