What is Schizandra Berry?

Schizandra Berry is the whole dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis, a deciduous climbing vine in the family Schisandraceae. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is called Wu Wei Zi, the "Five-Flavor Berry," because a single small fruit is said to carry all five classical Chinese tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent.

About the plant

The vine is native to the cold-temperate forests of northeastern China, Russia, and Korea, and produces small red berries in clusters that are harvested in late autumn. Schizandra is counted among the fifty fundamental herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine, with a documented history there spanning more than two thousand years. Its characteristic constituents are the lignans known as schisandrins.

Schizandra Berry: form & sizes

We carry Schizandra Berry as whole dried berries, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Schizandra Berry in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Schizandra Berry at a glance

Botanical name

Schisandra chinensis

Family

Schisandraceae

Native region

Northeast China, Russia, and Korea

Plant part

fruit

Chinese name

Wu Wei Zi (Five-Flavor Berry)

Studied compounds

Schisandrins (lignans)

Form

whole dried berries

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb