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Can Babies Eat Che Fruit? Yes, From 6 Months

Che fruit, also called Chinese mulberry or che, is a soft, round, maroon-red fruit with a mild, sweet, fig-like flavor. Babies can eat it from around 6 months. Mash the ripe fruit and press out the small seeds for early eaters. It is naturally sweet and gentle.

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When to introduce: Around 6 months
Common allergen?: Not a common allergen
Texture: Soft ripe fruit mashed, small seeds sieved out
Key nutrients: Vitamin C, fiber, iron, antioxidants

Che fruit, known as the Chinese mulberry or simply che, is a knobbly, maroon-red fruit about the size of a small plum, with soft red flesh and a mild, honeyed, fig-like sweetness. It is a relative of the mulberry, though distinct from it. Babies can have it from around 6 months. The ripe fruit is very soft and mashes easily, and while its small seeds are edible, pressing the pulp through a sieve gives the smoothest texture for early eaters.

Prep School: how to prepare che fruit for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

Around 6 monthsUse fully ripe, deep-red, soft fruit. Rinse it, mash the flesh with a fork, and press through a sieve if you want to remove the small seeds for a smooth puree. Serve plain or stirred into yogurt or oatmeal.

9 to 12 monthsOffer the mashed fruit on a preloaded spoon, or small soft pieces of the ripe flesh for self-feeding. Keep pieces soft and squashable, and continue to sieve for very smooth textures if you prefer.

ToddlerSoft ripe che can be offered in small pieces to toddlers who chew well. Choose only fully ripe fruit so it is soft and sweet, and keep meals supervised.

Is che fruit safe? Choking & prep

Che fruit is not a common allergen and is a gentle, naturally sweet first fruit from around 6 months. As with any soft fruit, offer it mashed or in soft, squashable pieces rather than firm chunks, and keep the pieces small for early self-feeders¹. The many small seeds are soft and edible, but you can sieve them out for a smoother puree if you like. Choose fully ripe fruit, since underripe che is firmer and much less sweet. Serve with your baby seated and supervised, and start with a small amount of any new food.

Trying che fruit today? Log the first taste and whether it was a hit, a hard maybe, or launched across the room, dated and ready for the pediatrician.

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Nutrition

Che fruit offers vitamin C for immune support and iron absorption, fiber for digestion, and some iron of its own, along with the red antioxidant pigments it shares with mulberries. Its natural sweetness is mild and fig-like, so it makes an easy, gentle introduction that most babies take to readily, with the sugars packaged inside the whole fruit rather than added. That combination makes it a pleasant, nutritious way to broaden a baby's fruit repertoire.

Goes well with

Mashed into whole-milk yogurt · Stirred through warm oatmeal · Blended with tart mashed apple to balance the sweetness · Folded into soft ricotta · Spooned over iron-fortified baby cereal

Storage & freezing

Ripe che fruit is soft and perishable, so use it within a day or two and keep it chilled. It does not travel or store well, which is why it is rarely sold in shops and mostly grown at home. You can freeze the mashed or sieved pulp in small portions for quick baby servings, and thaw in the fridge before use.

More fruits to explore

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CherimoyaAround 6 months

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CherriesAround 9 months

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ClementineAround 9 months, once baby handles soft finger foods

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CloudberryAround 6 months

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CoconaAround 6 months

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Cornelian cherryAround 6 months

Common questions

Can babies eat che fruit?

Yes, from around 6 months. Che fruit, the Chinese mulberry, is soft and naturally sweet. Mash the ripe fruit and sieve out the small seeds for a smooth puree, or offer soft squashable pieces to older babies.

What does che fruit taste like?

Mild and sweet, often compared to a fig or a gentle mulberry, with a honeyed flavor when fully ripe. Underripe fruit is firmer and much less sweet, so ripeness matters for babies.

Is che fruit the same as a mulberry?

It is a close relative, sometimes called Chinese mulberry, but a distinct fruit. Che is rounder and knobblier with soft red flesh, and it is prepared for babies the same way, mashed or sieved smooth.

Do I need to remove the seeds from che fruit?

Not strictly, as the small seeds are soft and edible. For the smoothest texture for a young baby, mash the ripe fruit and press it through a sieve to catch the seeds.

Sources

CDC: Choking hazards (Infant and Toddler Nutrition)

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Last updated July 2026. Next review January 2027. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.

This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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