The blackberry-like fruit of the Vaccinium bracteatum is its berry; when ripe it is sweet and tart and can be eaten directly.

The fruit of the Vaccinium bracteatum, an evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae family, is known among the people as Nanzhu zi. This plant is relatively common in the regions south of the Yangtze River in China, mostly growing on mountain slopes, at forest edges, or in thickets, and it prefers acidic soil. At the turn of summer and autumn each year, strings of small spherical berries form on the branches; the young fruit is green, and it turns purplish-black when ripe.

Ripe berries often bear a thin layer of white bloom on the surface, with little flesh; the taste is tart first and then sweet, carrying the distinctive fresh fragrance of wild mountain fruit. Though small, they hang in clusters on the branches and look quite striking from a distance. After picking, they can be eaten fresh directly, or made into jam or brewed into fruit wine, offering a variety of ways to enjoy them.

When it comes to the Vaccinium bracteatum, many people first think of black rice. In some southern regions there is a custom of picking its tender leaves, pounding them into juice, soaking glutinous rice in it, and steaming rice that comes out glossy black; this traditional food custom has been passed down for a long time. As for the fruit, it is often used among the people to make wine or stewed with ingredients, and it is believed to have tonic benefits for the body, though this falls under the category of food therapy and cannot replace proper medical treatment.

If you want to grow one yourself, the Vaccinium bracteatum likes a warm, humid climate and loose, breathable acidic soil, and it can be grown either in the ground or in a pot. It is ornamental both for its leaves and its fruit; in autumn the branches are full of fruit, which is very decorative, and with pruning it can also be shaped into a nice bonsai form. In daily care, be careful not to water it with alkaline water over the long term; keep the soil slightly acidic and the plant will grow more vigorously.