Loquat Origin Distribution and Variety Details
Loquat is known as the "first fruit of spring." It blooms in late autumn and early winter each year, and its fruit ripens at the transition between spring and summer, earlier than most fruits. The golden flesh of the loquat makes one's mouth water, and eating loquat regularly also helps promote appetite and stabilize blood pressure. There are many loquat varieties available on the market now, and their places of origin are unevenly distributed. Let's learn about the origins and varieties of this nutritious fruit, the loquat.
In China, loquat is mainly divided into six major production areas, namely Tangqi Town in Yuhang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province; Mengzi City, Yunnan Province; Dongshan Town, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province; Miyi County, Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province; Putian City, Fujian Province; and Yunxiao County, Zhangzhou City. Of course, there are also some loquat-growing areas of moderate size in many cities and counties in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, and elsewhere. The main loquat varieties are as follows:
1. Tangqi Loquat
Tangqi loquat is a traditional specialty fruit of Tangqi Town in Yuhang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, and is famous throughout the country. Its fruit develops and ripens early, making it an excellent fruit favored by consumers during the off-season of early summer. In addition, Tangqi loquat is attractive in appearance, golden in color, large in fruit size, thick in flesh, juicy, and sweet, making it truly a top-grade fruit. Tangqi loquat varieties fall into three major categories, white flesh, red seed, and grass seed, with 18 varieties in total. At present, 5 varieties are mainly cultivated: "Ruantiao Baisha," "Dahongpao," "Jiajiao," "Yangdun," and "Baozhu." Among them, "Ruantiao Baisha" is the finest, and all are national treasure-level high-quality varieties.
2. Putian Loquat
Putian loquat is one of the four famous fruits of Putian, Fujian, and is also a geographical indication product of the region, with a very long history of cultivation. Putian loquat is mainly known for its extra-large fruit, gorgeous appearance, abundant flesh, sweet taste, early maturity, and storability and transportability. Its main production area, Changtai Town, is known as "China's No. 1 Loquat Township."
3. Miyi Loquat
Miyi loquat comes from Miyi County, Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province, a famous hometown of Chinese specialty products. Miyi's dragon fruit, mango, and loquat are all signature specialties of the county. Among them, Miyi loquat is the earliest fresh fruit to set and ripen among all the specialties of Miyi County. Its fruit is golden and translucent, large and substantial, with soft, smooth, and refreshing flesh, moderate sweetness and acidity, and abundant, delicious juice. It is called the "king of fruits."
4. Yunxiao Loquat
Yunxiao loquat is known as the "first fruit of spring in southern Fujian." In recent years, Yunxiao County (Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province) introduced a new variety, "Zaozhong No. 6" loquat, bred by crossing "Jiefangzhong" with Japan's "Moriwase." It combines the male parent's characteristics of early maturity, high quality, and large fruit, and can also mature 15 to 30 days earlier than ordinary varieties. It can be marketed each year at the Lantern Festival. This variety has the advantages of orange-red skin and flesh, tender flesh, rich aroma, high sweetness, and little acidity. In 1992, it was rated by the relevant provincial department as an "excellent variety for loquat replacement and upgrading."
5. Luoyangqing Loquat
Huangyan Luoyangqing loquat is currently the main variety cultivated in Huangyan, with a cultivation area of about 1300 hectares. The fruit ripening period of Huangyan Luoyangqing loquat is in mid-to-late May. Luoyangqing loquat has orange-red flesh, coarse and dense texture, abundant juice, and moderate sweetness and acidity. Most importantly, its fruit is storability and transportability, and besides being eaten fresh, it is also an excellent variety for processing.
6. Dawuxing Loquat
Dawuxing loquat is a new high-quality large-fruit loquat variety bred in Longquanyi District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, in 1978 through seedling selection. Because its navel is shaped like a large, deep five-pointed star, it was named Dawuxing. Due to its excellent quality and large fruit shape, it won a silver award at the 1999 Kunming World Horticultural Exposition. At present, its market price in Longquan, Chengdu, is 1-2 times higher than that of other high-quality varieties, so it also has the reputation of being the king of loquat.
Overall, loquat varieties and places of origin are extremely rich, and each has its own characteristics. I believe many readers have tasted the deliciousness of loquat. So where do you think the most delicious loquat is produced? You are welcome to leave a comment for discussion.
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