Where is the kumquat's place of origin? A look at the latest production area distribution
The kumquat is also known as jinzao, jindan, jingan, and so on. It is an evergreen shrub of the genus Fortunella in the family Rutaceae, with extremely high cultivation value. It is grown for its leaves and flowers, its fruit, or specifically for producing fruit to make candied kumquat. After potting and careful management, a single plant can bear more than 10 small golden kumquats. At New Year it is generally exported to Hong Kong, China, and is very popular with Hong Kong people. Now let us take a look at where the kumquat's place of origin is!
Morphological characteristics of the kumquat
The kumquat is 3 m tall, generally without thorns, with green branchlets that branch abundantly when nutrients are sufficient. The leaves are lanceolate to long elliptic, 5-9 cm long, with entire margins, and the petioles have slight wings. The flowers are small, white, and fragrant, borne 1-3 per leaf axil, with 5 petals, 20-25 stamens, and a 5-loculed ovary. The fruit is elliptic or obovate, 2.5-3.5 cm long, and golden yellow. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is November to February of the following year. Under artificial cultivation, it flowers three times a year, the first time in March-April and the last time in August-September.
Where is the kumquat's place of origin?
The kumquat likes sunny, warm, and humid environments, is not cold-tolerant, is slightly shade-tolerant, is drought-tolerant, and requires well-drained, fertile, loose, slightly acidic sandy loam. The kumquat originated in southern China and is widely distributed in the provinces and regions along the Yangtze River basin and to the south, especially in Guangdong, where it is grown most extensively. It is most famous in Youxi, Fujian, Rong'an, Guangxi, Suichuan, Jiangxi, and Liuyang, Hunan.
The four major production areas of the kumquat
1. Youxi, Fujian: Youxi kumquats are beautiful in shape and bright in color, juicy and tender, sweet and sour, and the best quality is produced in the “Sanhong” area of Baziqiao (namely the three villages of Hongpai, Hongcun, and Hongtian). In recent years, the planting area in the two townships of Baziqiao and Guanqian has exceeded 10,000 mu, and total output has reached more than 1,100 tons. It is known as the “hometown of kumquats” in Fujian and has now become one of the four major kumquat production areas in the country.
2. Rong'an, Guangxi: Rong'an kumquats have a cultivation history of more than 260 years, a planting area of more than 92,000 mu, and an annual output of 87,000 tons, and are known as China's “hometown of kumquats”. Rong'an kumquats are juicy and sweet, crisp in texture, and free of a glycerol taste, and sell well in all provinces of China and ASEAN countries.
3. Suichuan, Jiangxi: Suichuan kumquats are famous for their golden color, large fruit, thin peel, and sweet taste, and are excellent in color, aroma, taste, and shape. The fresh fruit is golden yellow, elliptical or obovate-elliptical in appearance, like a pigeon egg. Suichuan kumquats rank first among the country's four major kumquat production areas in area, output, and fruit quality. In 1997, Suichuan was named “China's hometown of kumquats” by the Ministry of Agriculture.
4. Liuyang, Hunan: Liuyang kumquats are mainly produced in the Guandu District of Liuyang City, with a cultivation history of more than 1,000 years. Through the dynasties they were mostly a rare tribute fruit. During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, the Dahu-Tuanluo area alone produced as many as ten thousand dan of kumquats a year and was known as the “hometown of kumquats”. Before Liberation, the cultivation area in the Guandu area was more than 400 mu, with more than 35,000 plants and a peak annual output of 300 tons; the current annual output has reached more than 1,500 tons.