JAPANESE RAISIN
(Hovenia dulcis)
A Hovenia dulcis tree
Synonyms:
Hovenia acerba, Hovenia dulcis var. glabra, Hovenia dulcis var. latifolia,
Hovenia inequalis.
Other names:
Chinese raisin, mata-fome, tripa-de-galinha.
Japanese raisin
is native to subtropical Asia. It grows in the Asian region starting from
Japan to the Eastern Indian Himalayas upto an altitude of 200 m. It has
been introduced in many countries of the world is grown mostly as an ornamental
tree.
Japanese raisin is a large tree growing upto 20 m high. Though it
can grow everywhere, but still it performs best at sunny locations. The tree
has large glossy green leaves. The flowers are small, creamy white, mildly
fragrant and are clustered together.
Japanese
raisin fruits
Fruit is a reddish-brown drupe, about 1/3" in diameter about the
size of a raisin, hence the name. These appear at the end of the fleshy stalk.
The fruits are sweet, and can be eaten.
The real edible portion which is a pseudofruit, comprises of fleshy
fruit stalks. The stalks, when dry, have the taste, flavour and texture of
raisins. The fleshy stalks are used as raisins. The stalks fall off after
attaining ripening and are collected from the ground. They may be small in size
but are usually in copious amounts. These can be eaten both raw as well as
cooked. The other beauty of these fruits (stalks) is that you don't need to dry
them.
