What is Chija ?
Gardenia fruits are a small, deep orange-colored fruit that come from the gardenia plant, which is of the coffee family Rubiaceae. It originated in Asia and is often found growing wild in many parts of Korea. They are commonly sold dried. Gardenia fruits are often used for dying clothing and food, like yellow pickled radishes. Koreans are also known to make tea with the fruit.
Where and What To Buy
You can buy dried gardenia fruit online from places like Amazon in the US. Be sure to buy ones that are food grade.
How to Use/Cook
You don't eat chija but Koreans have been using this fruit as a yellow food coloring for a long time. It is used to color tteok or yellow pickled radish called Danmuji.
How to Clean/Store
Keep it in a dry, cool place.
How To Grow
You can grow your own gardenia plant and harvest the fruit in the fall and dry them for later use.
Nutrition/Health Info
Gardenia fruit, while mostly used as a colorant, is also used as an herbal remedy in teas for fevers as well as used in creating salves to apply to the skin to help with inflammation. Gardenia fruits have been historically used in Chinese medicine to control bleeding and reduce swelling. it is also known to be an effective source of antioxidants.
