How to Select and Eat Waxberries (Yangmei): The Correct Method

I. How to Select

1. Observe the appearance: To select waxberries, first look with your eyes at the color, choosing ripe waxberries that are bright red, and avoiding dark red ones. Choose those with a dry surface and a relatively plump size, with round spines on the outside; such fruit tastes very sweet and has a very soft texture.

2. Smell the aroma: Besides direct visual observation, you can also smell the aroma, choosing fruit that smells good with a faint fresh fragrance; this indicates it is already ripe, and the taste will be much better. Do not choose those with no smell, as this indicates they are not ripe, and do not choose those with a faint alcoholic smell, as this indicates improper storage or that they have been stored too long.

3. Give it a squeeze: You can pinch the surface of the waxberry with your hand and judge by feel; if it feels relatively hard, it means it is not fully ripe; if it feels relatively soft, it proves it is ripe; if it feels especially soft, it proves it is about to spoil, and it is not recommended to buy it.

4. Taste the flavor: If you can taste it, taste it directly and buy the one with good flavor.

II. How to Eat

There are many ways to eat waxberries; besides eating them directly raw, you can also make jam, soak them into waxberry wine, make canned waxberries, and so on, choosing according to your own preferences.