Herb. No. 130 · Schisandraceae
Northern Chinese, Korean, and Russian Far-East woodland vine.
Native · East Asia
Native Also grown
LegalGentleplant
Schisandra
Schisandra chinensis
The five-flavor berry of Chinese tonic medicine — sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, and salty in one hanging cluster.
Schisandra is a hardy Far-Eastern vine whose scarlet berries are said to carry all five tastes. Traditional Chinese use is as an astringent qi-and-essence tonic for fatigue, a dry cough, and the frazzled. The tea is sour-berry, not dessert. You need a male and a female vine for fruit, or a named self-fertile cultivar.
Flavor
Sour first, then sweet-bitter, a little salt and spice. Cranberry’s serious cousin.
Parts used
Ripe berry
Helpful
- A handsome hardy vine
- A true tonic berry
Cautions
- Needs two sexes unless named self-fertile
- Sour enough to pucker a kettle
- May stimulate in some people