Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

• The hawthorn fruit are small, bright red fruits that are grow on the hawthorn tree
• The hawthorn shrubs or trees stand no taller than 15 m in height and produce a white flower along side the fruit
• The fruit is often used by the Chinese to produce snack, jams, jellies, beverages and alcoholic beverages
• Dried hawthorn fruits store very well in dry conditions and can keep up to 6 months in a sealed container

How do I prepare it?

• Soak the hawthorn fruit in warm water and wash before usage

Where can I buy this?

• In Asian supermarkets, you can purchase them prepackaged
• You can also purchase them from Chinese speciality stores (pharmacies) in bulk by weight
• There are a variety of hawthorn products available in Asian supermarkets as well (such as drinks and hawthorn flakes)

What is the cost?

• Dried hawthorn costs around $2.00 – $3.00 CAD / pound

Any benefits?

• The fruit is extremely high in Vitamin C content
• Hawthorn fruit is used in traditional Chinese medicine to assist with digestion
• When boiled into a sweet soup, it is known to relieve heatiness

Any precautions?

• Extreme consumption can lead to cardiac arrhythmia and low blood pressure
• It is also known to cause nausea and is sometimes used as a sedative

Resources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crataegus
• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hawthorn-fruit-used-for.htm