Japanese Oak (Lithocarpus glaber)

Family: Fagaceae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

Lithocarpus glaber is an evergreen Tree growing to 7 m (23ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

tasting tannins. — The seed probably contains bitter-tasting tannins.; These can be removed by soaking the seed in water for a few days, changing the soak water regularly.; The process can be speeded up by grinding the seed into a powder prior to soaking.

Habitat & North American Range

Mixed mesophytic forests, frequent on sunny slopes; below 1500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang. (Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)