A Complete Analysis of the Latest Benefits and Effects of Shatian Pomelo

Winter is a great season for eating pomelos. When visiting relatives during the Chinese New Year, there are always a few peeled pomelos on the table, and Shatian pomelos are often among them. This kind of pomelo is actually a local specialty of Rong County in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and was first grown by the local Shatian Village, which is how it got the name Shatian pomelo. There are many ways to distinguish varieties of Shatian pomelo; for example, by the taste of the flesh they can be divided into two major categories, sour pomelos and sweet pomelos, by the color of the flesh they can be divided into two major categories, white-fleshed pomelos and red-fleshed pomelos, and by appearance they can also be divided into spherical or pear-shaped. Let us now take a closer look at the Shatian pomelo:

I. Place of Origin

As mentioned earlier, the Shatian pomelo originates from Shatian Village in Rong County, Guangxi, and as early as the 1930s it was exported to places such as Hong Kong, China, Nanyang, Europe and the Americas. It has now been expanded to areas along the Xunjiang, Longjiang, Guijiang, Lijiang and Hongshui River basins in Guangxi, and has also been introduced successively to Guangdong, Hunan, Sichuan, Zhejiang and Jiangxi. In 2013, Guangxi became the largest concentrated production area for Shatian pomelos in China, with a planting area of several hundred thousand mu across the entire autonomous region.

II. Planting Methods and Environmental Requirements

For raising Shatian pomelo seedlings there are several methods, including grafting, layering, cuttings and sowing, but in production practice grafted seedlings are superior to layered and cutting seedlings. Grafted Shatian pomelo seedlings generally begin to bear fruit after about 3 years and enter their full production period after 5 to 6 years. Seedling-raised Shatian pomelos generally begin to bear fruit after 6 to 8 years and enter their full production period after 8 to 10 years.

In choosing the geographical environment for planting Shatian pomelos, because Shatian pomelos have relatively large fertilizer and water needs, ample fertilizer and water are the important conditions that must first be considered for developing Shatian pomelos. A site must be chosen with deep, loose, fertile soil and sufficient water sources; for mountainous land, a gentle slope with a gradient below 20 degrees facing south with its back to the north should be chosen, and there should be a water-source forest at the top of the hill. Generally speaking, anywhere that can grow citrus can also grow Shatian pomelos.

III. Benefits and Effects of Shatian Pomelo

Shatian pomelo is rich in vitamin C, and the sugars it contains are mainly fructose, which can be directly absorbed and used by the human body. Therefore, it is especially suitable for sick people, women who have just given birth, children and the elderly. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that Shatian pomelo has the effects of relieving cough and calming panting, clearing heat and resolving phlegm, strengthening the spleen and promoting digestion, and sobering up and relieving restlessness. Its flesh is cold in nature and sweet in taste, and can relieve cough and calm panting, clear heat and resolve phlegm, strengthen the spleen and promote digestion, and sober up and relieve restlessness; its peel is warm in nature and bitter and pungent in taste, and has the effects of regulating qi, resolving phlegm and soothing the middle, strengthening the spleen and promoting digestion, and dispelling cold and drying dampness, and can also be cooked into dishes or made into candied fruit; the outer skin of the fruit and the pomelo leaves contain volatile oils and have effects such as reducing inflammation, relieving pain, promoting diuresis and refreshing the mind, and treat conditions such as mastitis, joint pain and head-wind disease. Especially for pregnant women, Shatian pomelo is rich in vitamins and minerals, can supplement various nutrients needed by pregnant women, and can also promote appetite and treat symptoms such as indigestion.

The above is part of the knowledge about Shatian pomelo. As the end of the year is approaching, everyone can also start going to the supermarket to pick out some fruit to keep at home in preparation for entertaining guests. When selecting Shatian pomelos, there is also a little piece of experience worth sharing, and that is “choose the small ones, not the big ones,” because in orchards where fertilizer and water are properly controlled, the fruit produced is relatively uniform and there are no especially large or especially small ones, and the relatively small pomelos are also very authentic, often better in sugar content and taste than the relatively large ones.