A person picks longzhua from a tree. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

Due to its strange appearance, it is almost impossible for a person to identify longzhua, or dragon claw-shaped fruit, as a kind of fruit if they are learning about it for the first time.

Generally speaking, the edible part of a fruit is either the pulp or the kernel, but for longzhua, it is the handle parts that are edible.

The edible handles sprout out during the longzhua's flowering period. They will become swollen and tawny or reddish-purple with tangled branches when the fruit is ripe.

Ripe longzhua with tangled branches. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

It is also a little bit complicated to enjoy longzhua as one needs to shake off the seed covering the fruit first, with the remaining parts being the edible parts.

Longzhua tastes tender with the fragrance of jujubes, the sweetness of pears, as well as the bittersweet nature of licorice root. The fruit contains large amounts of sugar and is the only fruit containing fructose, sucrose, as well as glucose.

In traditional Chinese medicine, longzhua has the effect of clearing heat and relieving alcoholism. It can also be soaked in liquor to make medicinal liquor.