A CLOSER LOOK
How to recognize it
The round fruits are about 5 mm across, green when young and black when ripe. Culinary identity should be checked by name, not appearance alone.
In the kitchen
Used whole or crushed to season sour soups and fish dishes. Their aromatic pungency is different from chili heat.
Fresh and dried fruits differ from prepared mujiangzi seasoning oil. This entry covers the fruits, not the oil or a woody seasoning stick; check the form named in a recipe.
Ask about this ingredient
这道菜里有木姜子果实吗？
Does this dish contain Mujiangzi fruits (Litsea cubeba)?
A few dishes to explore
These examples use this ingredient in typical or optional preparations. Open the dish to see the distinction; a restaurant’s recipe can differ.
