When do Xi'an fire crystal persimmons ripen and hit the market? How much do they cost per jin?
The fire crystal persimmons featured in the recently popular TV drama "The Longest Day in Chang'an" have won over a huge fan base, and many consumers want to know when fire crystal persimmons ripen and hit the market, how much they cost per jin, and other questions, so let's take a closer look below.
When do fire crystal persimmons ripen and hit the market?
Fire crystal persimmons generally ripen and hit the market from the end of September to October. After softening, they are as red and dazzling as a fireball and as crystal clear as crystal, hence the name “fire crystal persimmon”. They are also called Lintong fire crystal persimmons and are a specialty of Lintong District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, and a China National Geographical Indication product. The reason fire crystal persimmons are so famous is mainly because they have the following characteristics:
1. Quality
Fire crystal persimmons are rich in nutrients, containing 19.73% soluble solids, more than 16.9% sugar, 0.113% tannins, and 2.33 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of flesh. In particular, their sugar content is extremely high, mostly glucose, fructose, and sucrose, with very little acidity, making them especially sweet to eat. They rank first among fruits and are known as the “sweetest golden fruit”.
2. Growing conditions
The variety is the local traditional cultivated variety, the fire crystal persimmon. The soil is flood-silted soil with both sandy and gravelly soil, with a porosity of 47 to 49%, a pH value between 6.5 and 7.5, and a soil organic matter content of 0.75% to 1.3%. Moreover, when propagating, grafted seedlings must be planted. The scion must be pure fire crystal persimmon, with Diospyros lotus used as the rootstock, and the seedlings must be propagated by grafting, with the rootstock required to be robust and have a well-developed root system.
3. History
Fire crystal persimmons have a long history of cultivation in Lintong. Starting from after Emperor Taizong of Tang expanded the palace at the foot of Mount Li and introduced persimmons there as rare flowers and trees for ornamental viewing, they have been cultivated for at least more than 1,300 years.
4. Value
In addition to being eaten fresh, fire crystal persimmons can also be used to make wine and vinegar, and they are also a good tonic. In addition, they also have important medicinal uses; both the persimmon flesh and the persimmon leaves are good materials for treating illness.
How much do fire crystal persimmons cost per jin?
Fire crystal persimmons' highest price in the past 7 days (yuan/jin): 5.75; lowest price in the past 7 days (yuan/jin): 2.8; average price in the past 7 days (yuan/jin): 5.33.
Driven by the recent TV drama, current Lintong fire crystal persimmons are basically being pre-sold two to three months in advance, and sales have also increased substantially. If you want to taste them, you'd better act early.