This product is the dried and mature fruit of the plant Schisandra chinensis (Turcz. ) Baill., belonging to the Magnoliaceae family. It is commonly known as "North Schisandra". The fruit is harvested when it is fully ripe in autumn, and is then dried by sun exposure or through steaming followed by sun exposure. The fruit stalks and impurities are removed.
【Properties and Characteristics】 This product is in the shape of an irregular sphere or a flattened sphere, with a diameter of 5 to 8 mm. The surface is red, purple-red or dark red, wrinkled, and oily; some have a black-red surface or a "white frost". The pulp is soft, with 1 to 2 seeds, kidney-shaped, with a brown-yellow surface, lustrous, and a thin and brittle seed coat. The pulp has a faint aroma and a sour taste; when the seeds are crushed, there is an aroma, a slightly pungent and slightly bitter taste.