Chinese quince
Chaenomeles sinensis

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 5-10 m high. The branches do not have spines. They are hairy. They are purple-brown. The leaves are narrowly oval and 5-8 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They taper to both ends and also have sharp teeth. They turn red in autumn. The flowers are pink. They occur singly and are about 3 cm across. The fruit are oblong and 5-6 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. They are dark-yellow and woody.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows at about 1,000 m above se level through central China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan, Korea

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or preserved in syrup. The fruit are used for a drink partly as medicine. They are mixed with ginger to make a drink.

It is occasionally cultivated as a food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit - drink

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Malus sinensis Dumont de Courset; Cydonia sinensis Thouin;