Factsheet F47: Myrica rubra – red bayberry

Red bayberry, also called Chinese tree berry, Yangmei, Chinese strawberry tree, Chinese Bayberry, Japanese Bayberry, Zhuhong, Zhuroing, Shanyangmei, Shumei (in Taiwan) or yamamomo (in Japan). It is an important fruit and forest tree in China, with large and increasing areas cultivated (over 230,000 ha in 2003) to supply a large demand for the fruits. As well as an important economic tree there, it has great ecological and social value too.
Myrica rubra (Syn. M.nagi) is a stone fruit with a berry-like edible portion comprising fleshy segments. The rich red colours and appealing flavour make this juicy fruit very popular with Chinese consumers.