Is tangerine peel from the Rutaceae family? Ten-year tangerine peel prices, effects and functions

Everyone in the trade knows that the older the tangerine peel, the more valuable it is, and there has long been a saying that “one liang of tangerine peel is one liang of gold, and century-old tangerine peel surpasses gold.” So is tangerine peel orange peel? How much is it per jin? What effects and functions does it have?

Tangerine peel is actually orange peel, the dried mature peel of the Rutaceae plant citrus and its cultivated varieties. The medicinal material is divided into “tangerine peel” and “Guang tangerine peel.” The mature fruit is picked, the peel is removed, and it is sun-dried or dried at low temperature.

How much is tangerine peel per jin?

Only peel aged more than 3 years is called tangerine peel. It needs a certain number of years to show its “power.” The older the tangerine peel, the more valuable it is. Its market price mainly depends on quality and varies slightly from market to market. According to tangerine peel collector Mr. Li, the fresh peel he bought in 2006 cost about 30-something yuan per jin. After ten years of collection, it has risen to about 1,000 yuan per jin, while 40-year-old tangerine peel now has a market value of 100,000 yuan per jin.

What is the difference between Xinhui tangerine peel and ordinary tangerine peel? Why is it more valuable?

Source differences

Tangerine peel is generally the dried mature peel of Rutaceae Fukuju mandarin and Wenzhou mandarin, etc. (the tangerine peel made from mature peel regulates the qi of the spleen and stomach and dries dampness and transforms phlegm; green peel regulates liver qi and removes food stagnation and resolves stagnation. The two have different effects. Although they come from the same plant, they cannot be substituted for each other.)

Guang tangerine peel is generally the dried mature peel of the Rutaceae plants Chazhigan and Xinggan. Among Guang tangerine peels, Xinhui tangerine peel is the authentic medicinal material. Xinhui tangerine peel has had many aliases in history, such as Xinhui tangerine peel, Xinhui mandarin peel, and Gangzhou peel.

Production area differences

Ordinary tangerine peel is mainly produced in Fujian, Sichuan, Zhejiang and other places.

Guang tangerine peel, as an authentic medicinal material of Guangdong Province, is mainly produced in Xinhui and Sihui in Guangdong.

In the same period, the peel from Xinhui production areas is large in shape, relatively soft in texture, slightly late in coloring, and slightly yellow-green (after the fruit is fully mature, the peel appears bright red). The oil cells on the surface are prominent, with a glossy oily appearance. However, because it is often affected by typhoons, there are more mechanical hard scars, and due to the higher temperature, radial bursting of surface oil cells is commonly seen. Peel produced elsewhere is orange-red, with smooth surface oil cells and a smooth feel, but some have hilly protrusions (related to soil type, temperature, rootstock and technology, etc.).

Trait comparison

Tangerine peel is often peeled into several lobes, connected at the base, and some are irregular slices, 1-4 mm thick. The outer surface is orange-red or reddish-brown, with fine wrinkles and sunken dotted oil chambers; the inner surface is light yellowish-white, rough, with yellowish-white or yellow-brown vein-like vascular bundles. The texture is slightly hard and brittle. The odor is fragrant, and the taste is pungent and bitter.

Xinhui tangerine peel is often connected in 3 lobes, neat in shape, uniform in thickness, about 1 mm thick. The dotted oil chambers are larger, and when viewed against light, they are transparent and clear. The texture is relatively soft.

Chemical composition comparison

There are obvious differences between Xinhui tangerine peel and tangerine peel in the components of volatile oil. Compared with ordinary tangerine peel, Xinhui tangerine peel has a higher content of volatile oil and contains more chemical components, including limonene, myrcene, terpineol β- α-ene and other components with relatively strong pharmacological activity, and has important effects such as antitussive, expectorant and antibacterial actions.

Effect differences

Tangerine peel is a commonly used qi-regulating medicine. Its effects and applications have continued to develop with deeper practice and understanding. From the Qin and Han dynasties, its qi-regulating effects gradually added effects and applications such as stopping vomiting, strengthening the spleen and promoting diuresis, expelling parasites, transforming phlegm and relieving cough, descending qi and harmonizing the middle, relieving alcohol toxicity, treating women's breast abscess, and drying dampness and relieving depression.

As a special and excellent variety of tangerine peel, Xinhui tangerine peel has its unique effects and pharmacology. Its nature and flavor are pungent, bitter and warm, and it enters the spleen and lung meridians. Its pungent and warm medicinal nature can regulate qi and harmonize the middle, while its bitter and warm nature can dry dampness and invigorate the spleen. It is an important medicine for spleen-stomach qi stagnation with dampness obstruction and excessive phlegm-dampness, with its key action being to regulate qi and dry dampness. Xinhui tangerine peel also has effects such as soothing the liver and promoting gallbladder function and resolving masses and transforming abscesses. Combined with frankincense, myrrh, Angelica sinensis tail and angelica dahurica, it can relieve sore and painful sores and abscesses; combined with Bupleurum, bitter orange, white peony, prepared licorice, curcuma and Sichuan chinaberry, it can treat hypochondriac pain and bitter taste in the mouth.

In short, Guang tangerine peel is a rare stomach-strengthening, diaphoretic and expectorant medicine, with effects such as removing dampness, transforming phlegm, stimulating appetite, promoting digestion, treating accumulated heat in the chest, counterflow qi, and relieving strangury and bladder heat.

Effects and functions of tangerine peel

Helps digestion

Eating tangerine peel can absorb volatile oil, which has a mild stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, promotes the secretion of digestive juices, and discharges accumulated gas in the body. It is very effective for strengthening the stomach and descending qi.

Protects the cardiovascular system

Boiling tangerine peel in water allows the alcohol extract to be absorbed, which can invigorate the heart muscle and cause blood vessels to contract. The pectin in it can fight arteriosclerosis and prevent cardiovascular hardening.

Relieves cough and calms asthma

Eating tangerine peel can also protect the respiratory system. The volatile oil and pectin in tangerine peel can dilate the bronchi, while the alcohol extract can relieve cough and calm asthma.

Relieves burns

If you accidentally suffer a burn on your body, wiping with tangerine peel can protect the skin.

Beautifies and nourishes the skin

Tangerine peel can be used to soak in water. Absorbing vitamin C and essential oil is very good for refreshing the mind and promoting qi, and it can also expel toxins and promote healthy internal circulation, which is very effective.

Tangerine peel has great effects. What are the specific ways to eat it?

Drink as an infusion

Soaking tangerine peel in water is something everyone likes. Each time, select 20 g of tangerine peel, which can relieve indigestion and poor appetite. I hope everyone pays more attention to this.

Decoction

When decocting tangerine peel, use 3—10 g each time, which can regulate qi and strengthen the spleen, dry dampness and transform phlegm.