Shan Zha Slices (Crataegus pinnatifida) — Pitted Dried Hawthorn for Sour Plum Soup & Tea

Shan Zha Slices (Crataegus pinnatifida) are the dried, pitted fruit slices of a beloved traditional food herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Shān Zhā (山楂). Also called Hawthorn, Shan Zha has been prized for centuries as a digestive, qi-moving, and food-resolving herb, used to support the stomach, ease heaviness after rich meals, and promote smooth flow of qi and blood. Its nature is sour, sweet, and slightly warm, making it a gentle yet effective herb for harmonizing the digestive system.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional digestive and qi-moving food herb
• Pitted, coreless hawthorn slices
• Crataegus pinnatifida
• Unsulfured, new-crop quality
• Ideal for sour plum soup and herbal tea

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully sliced and dried to preserve its deep red color, firm texture, and mild fruity aroma. When decocted or brewed, the slices yield a tart, slightly sweet infusion with a bright, refreshing acidity that adds depth to teas and soups without overpowering other ingredients.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Sour plum soup (suan mei tang)
• Herbal tea blends
• Digestive support after meals
• Soup and congee ingredient
• Seasonal food-therapy preparations

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Shan Zha is decocted into soups, teas, and congee to support digestion and ease heaviness after rich or greasy meals. It is a classic ingredient in sour plum soup, where it pairs with ingredients like dried tangerine peel, licorice root, and rock sugar. As a daily tea, it is brewed alone or blended with rose bud and hawthorn for a tart, refreshing infusion.

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