Litsea Cubeba Seed

Plant description 

The Litsea cubeba seed is obtained from Litsea Cubeba tree, or May Chang tree, reaching 5 to 8 meters in height. Its green bark has lenticels and turns brownish-gray as it matures. The outer bark is smooth, with colors ranging from light gray to brownish-red. The inner bark is cream, orange-yellow, or light red. The tree has numerous long, soft branches that emit a gentle lemon-like fragrance.

Leaf

The alternate, simple leaves have lanceolate blades measuring 7-10 cm in length and 1.5-2.5 cm in width. Their upper surface is dark green, while the underside is gray, eventually turning black. The thick leaves have entire margins, slender petioles, and prominent pinnate venation.

Flower

The small, cream-colored flowers have male and female blooms on different branches, growing in clusters at leaf axils or branch tips. The round berries turn black when ripe and emit a strong fragrance. The tree flowers from January to March and bears fruit from April to September.

Distribution

Global Distribution: The Màng tang tree is found from the eastern Himalayas to southern China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia.

In Vietnam: Màng tang grows wild in high mountainous areas such as Hoàng Liên Sơn and provinces like Lào Cai, Tuyên Quang, Sơn La, and others. It is also cultivated in some plantations for shade and essential oil extraction.

Parts Used, Harvesting, Processing, and Storage

Parts Used: Roots, fruits, branches, and leaves.

Harvesting: Roots, branches, and leaves are harvested year-round from mature trees. Fruits are collected when ripe.

Processing: The entire plant is cleaned, washed, and dried for future use. Fruits can be distilled for essential oil.

Storage: Herbal materials should be stored in a cool, dry, and clean place, avoiding dampness and direct sunlight.

Benefits of Màng Tang

Chemical Composition: The Màng tang tree contains various compounds, including essential oils and alkaloids. The essential oil composition varies by plant part:

• • The fruit oil contains 70% citral.
  • The leaf oil contains 80% cineol.
  • The bark oil contains 36% geraniol.

Dried Fruit

When the Màng tang fruit is plump, squeezing it shows hard seeds with a light yellow color. This indicates that the fruit is nearly ripe and can be harvested for drying in natural sunlight.

Application

Dried Màng tang fruit (wild pepper) has a mild spicy flavor and a hint of lemongrass aroma. It is commonly used to season grilled pork, beef, chicken, duck, and seafood, enhancing the flavor of these dishes. Additionally, fresh fruit and leaves are used to extract essential oils for medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Quality and supply

At Dien Bien Agri, we commit our Litsea cubeba seed undergoes stringent quality control to meet international standards. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure sustainable harvesting and ethical production. Contact us for more information.

Read more about product here.