Northern China peppercorn, Sichuan pepper
Zanthoxylum bungeanum

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A shrub that loses its leaves during the year. It grows 3-7 m high. The trunk and branches have strong prickles. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 5-11 leaflets. They are oval and 2-7 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The flowers are small and yellowish-green and of one sex. They are in groups at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. The fruit follicles are round and red-purple.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is native to northern China. It grows below 3,200 m above sea level. It also grows in Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Tibet

How it is used for food

The dried fruit is used as a spice. The leaves are used as a spice for cooking with fish and for sauce from fermented soybean and wheat flour.

It is popular as a spice in Sichuan.

Edible parts

Fruit - spice, leaves - spice, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

A zao, Hua jiao, Iime, Jiao ya, Thbyi-mangs, Yehiajiao, Ye ma, Yemu, Ze bu, Ze ma

Synonyms

Zanthoxylum bungei Planch.; Zanthoxylum simulans Hance; and several others