Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus officinalis) — Dried Dogwood Fruit, Food Herb for Tea & Soup

Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus officinalis), also known as Zhū Yú Ròu (茱萸肉) or Shān Yú Ròu (山萸肉), is the dried, naturally sun-dried fruit flesh of a highly revered traditional herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Shān Zhū Yú (山茱萸). For centuries, Shan Zhu Yu has been prized as a stabilizing, astringent, and essence-preserving herb, traditionally used to anchor the body's vital essence, support the Kidney and Liver, and gently restrain excessive discharge. Its nature is slightly warm with a sour, astringent flavor, making it a gentle yet profoundly grounding herb for nourishing the Liver and Kidney and harmonizing the body's core vitality.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional essence-preserving food herb
• Naturally sun-dried Cornus officinalis fruit
• Sour, astringent, slightly warm nature
• Suitable for tea, soup, and congee
• Clean, food-grade agricultural product

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully sun-dried to preserve its deep purplish-red to wine-red color, wrinkled yet fleshy texture, and mild, faintly fruity aroma. When decocted or simmered, the fruit flesh softens and releases a distinctly sour, astringent flavor with a subtle sweetness, lending a grounding, tart note to teas and broths without overpowering other ingredients.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Chinese-style soup and broth
• Herbal tea blends
• Congee and grain porridge
• Seasonal slow-cooking
• Soup-pack ingredient

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Shan Zhu Yu is decocted into soups, congee, and longevity tonics to support daily essence-preserving nourishment. It is a common ingredient in Kidney-nourishing soup packs, where it pairs with ingredients like Chinese yam, goji berry, and rehmannia. As a tea, it is brewed alone or blended with wolfberry and rose for a tart, grounding infusion.

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