Summer brings Guangdong a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and one standout seasonal delicacy is the Phoenix Eye Fruit. Its novelty, nutritional value, and medicinal properties earn it a special place in Cantonese culinary tradition—and it’s now at the peak of harvest.

Resembling oversized peas, Phoenix Eye Fruits grow in clusters of four or five nuts inside a single pod. When ripe, the crimson pods split open to reveal glossy black seeds that strikingly mimic the shape of a phoenix’s eye—hence the name. This quintessential Lingnan specialty has an incredibly short harvest window of just 40 days. Farmers across the Greater Bay Area are busy gathering the crop, while restaurants quickly incorporate it into seasonal dishes like braised chicken with Phoenix Eye Fruit and sweet dessert soups—much to diners’ delight.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Phoenix Eye Fruit is believed to aid digestion, soothe the stomach, and combat internal heat. Even its roots and stems hold value, often used in herbal remedies for stomach pain and bruises. Every part of this plant is a treasure—so would you like to give it a try?