Hequ Red Berries

Last updated 2026-11-08 — In the Hequ area of northwestern Shanxi, there is an abundance of small fruits resembling hawthorns, known as red berries, also called drunken berries. Locals refer to them as haihong and haitang. Huang Zhaizhong of the Qing Dynasty once wrote a poem specifically about the drunken berries of Hequ: “In autumn woods, I pluck a basketful with ease, / Soaked in wine, the bottles taste even more intense. / Enduring sour cold through fermentation’s lease, / Remembering how they braved frost and wind in dense. / Piled on the plate, they glow like chicken-heart red, / Drawn from the jar, they’re round and fragrant like horse’s milk. / Children’s cheeks flush red from eating them instead, / Calling them drunk betel nuts, their praises uplift.” This poem vividly depicts the growth, processing, shape, and flavor of the drunken berries, rich with the essence of daily life. The red berry is a small fruit tree with a history of around three hundred years. The red berry tree blooms white flowers, and its fruits appear pinkish or slightly yellow, shaped like chicken-heart stones—bright red and lovely, sweet and tangy in taste. They can be eaten fresh or processed into dried fruits, drunken berries, fruit leather, candied haws, as well as jams, wines, vinegars, and canned products.