Canarium album is known as the Chinese olive tree, an evergreen tree in the Burseraceae family that grows to 30 m (100 ft) tall in primary and secondary forests of China, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Laos. It is a hardy species, cited as growing in various conditions, including saline or alkaline soils and rocky hillsides. The Chinese olive tree is extensively cultivated in China, as it produces an edible drupe fruit sold fresh in markets and eaten much as olives are.It is considered a digestive aid and used to regain sobriety, and it is dried as a traditional anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory medicinal agent.Its fragrant, sticky sap is also harvested for incense.The bark and leaves have been analyzed and found to have high levels of antioxidants, which may have medical value (BIOTIK 2006-08; Zhejiang 2008).
Canarium album[2] is a tree species in the genus Canarium and the family Burseraceae, found in Indo-China; the Catalogue of Life does not record any sub-species.[2]
Canarium album produces a fruit commonly called Chinese olive or white olive,[3] though it has no relation to Olea; it is consumed in Vietnam (Vietnamese: trám trắng, fruit quả trám), Thailand (where it is known as nam liap (Thai: หนำเลี้ยบ), samo chin (Thai: สมอจีน) or kana (Thai: กาน้า)) and in China (simplified Chinese: 橄榄; traditional Chinese: 橄欖; pinyin: gǎnlǎn).[4]
The pulp of the tree's fruit and its seeds are edible, with a strong resinous flavor when they are fresh. Culinary oil can be extracted from the seed. Preserves can be made with the fruit, both sweet like jam or pickled preserves. In China, a pickle called olive vegetable (simplified Chinese: 橄榄菜; traditional Chinese: 橄欖菜; pinyin: gǎnlǎn cài), made from a mix of Canarium album fruit and mustard greens, is commonly used as a flavoring for congee and fried rice.[5]
Mostly cultivated in Thailand, cultivation has been introduced on a smaller scale to Fiji and northern Queensland in Australia. Its fruit, resin and seed are exported to Europe where they are used in the manufacture of varnish and soap.[6]
Khao phat nam liap dish (with rice) from Thailand
Hunanese stir-fry of green beans with olive vegetable
Canarium album is a tree species in the genus Canarium and the family Burseraceae, found in Indo-China; the Catalogue of Life does not record any sub-species.
Canarium album produces a fruit commonly called Chinese olive or white olive, though it has no relation to Olea; it is consumed in Vietnam (Vietnamese: trám trắng, fruit quả trám), Thailand (where it is known as nam liap (Thai: หนำเลี้ยบ), samo chin (Thai: สมอจีน) or kana (Thai: กาน้า)) and in China (simplified Chinese: 橄榄; traditional Chinese: 橄欖; pinyin: gǎnlǎn).
The pulp of the tree's fruit and its seeds are edible, with a strong resinous flavor when they are fresh. Culinary oil can be extracted from the seed. Preserves can be made with the fruit, both sweet like jam or pickled preserves. In China, a pickle called olive vegetable (simplified Chinese: 橄榄菜; traditional Chinese: 橄欖菜; pinyin: gǎnlǎn cài), made from a mix of Canarium album fruit and mustard greens, is commonly used as a flavoring for congee and fried rice.
Mostly cultivated in Thailand, cultivation has been introduced on a smaller scale to Fiji and northern Queensland in Australia. Its fruit, resin and seed are exported to Europe where they are used in the manufacture of varnish and soap.
