There’s nothing we like better than good old Chinese lanterns, and thinking up wild, wacky, fascinating and occasionally educational material for our much-celebrated and widely read blog, as seen on these very pages, dear fan. As you can probably imagine, extensive research every single week goes into what materialises, and we love finding out about how Chinese lanterns are being used all over the world, in various celebrations and times of remembrance. But can you imagine our shock/surprise when we discovered that the term ‘Chinese lanterns’ can also refer to an exotic fruit, native to several areas across the world, from Southern Europe and through Asia. The ‘Physalis alkekengi’ is identifiable by its white flowers, as well as the red/orange papery covering of the fruit, hence the reason it has adopted its more commonly used name; as for what you might use it for, the Winter Cherry (yet another term that can be used to describe this extraordinary plant) is often part of a decorative piece seen in the home, stunning against pale walls or in light spaces, particularly as the sun filters through the outer casing of the fruit. Chinese lanterns (this type, anyway), are edible, but must be enjoyed in moderation as side-effects can be serious.If you have any more information about these Chinese lanterns you’d like to share, or would like to find out a little more about our products or our service, please get in touch and one of our team will be on hand to help. We look forward to hearing from you!
