Despite its resemblance to lychee, the arbutus is a Mediterranean native. The arbutus, however, does not exclusively grow in the Mediterranean basin. There is, in fact, another arbutus variety: the Chinese arbutus, sometimes known as Chinese strawberry. On the surface, the Chinese arbutus resembles our Mediterranean arbutus, with the exception of the kernel. The Chinese arbutus does, in fact, have a huge central core. For thousands of years, the arbutus has been harvested throughout Asia for its juice, which is prized for its high antioxidant content and sweet and tangy flavor.