Where Is Shatian Pomelo a Specialty Of? A Complete Guide to Its Place of Origin

Shatian pomelo is the fruit of the pomelo, a plant of the genus Citrus in the family Rutaceae. It is usually divided into two major categories by flesh flavor, sour pomelo and sweet pomelo, or into two major categories by flesh color, white-fleshed pomelo and red-fleshed pomelo. It is not only high in nutritional value, but also has effects such as strengthening the stomach, moistening the lungs, nourishing the blood, cleansing the intestines, promoting bowel movements, aiding digestion, and relieving alcohol toxicity. Let us take a look below at where Shatian pomelo is a specialty of!

Where is Shatian pomelo a specialty of?

Shatian pomelo is a specialty of Rong County, Guangxi. Shatian pomelo was originally named Yanghezi. Because it was first planted in Shatian Village, Rong County, Guangxi, it was called Shatian pomelo. It is said that in the old days, a man from Shatian Village in Rong County named Xia Jigang, who held office elsewhere, brought back two Yanghezi seedlings, planted them in fertile soil beside a pond, and instructed his family to care for them carefully. Later, through painstaking cultivation, they were finally developed into a fruit that is crisp, tender, sweet, and honey-flavored. According to records, the cultivation of Shatian pomelo in Shatian Brigade, Songshan Commune, Rong County, has a history of more than 200 years.

When does Shatian pomelo ripen?

Shatian pomelo is a medium-ripening pomelo variety. It usually blooms around April, the fruiting period is after late October, and mid-November is the best harvest period. Although it is already on the market around the Mid-Autumn Festival, Shatian pomelo before the Mid-Autumn Festival is not very tasty. Shatian pomelo picked after Frost's Descent is better. The surface of a ripe fruit is a slightly darker orange-yellow, the peel is thick, the appearance is not particularly smooth, and the fruit shape is mostly pear-shaped.

How many years does it take for Shatian pomelo to bear fruit after planting?

The time for Shatian pomelo to bear fruit varies depending on the seedling propagation method. Usually, seedling propagation methods include grafting, air layering, cuttings, sowing, and several others, but in production practice grafted seedlings are superior to air-layered seedlings and cutting seedlings. Grafted seedlings generally begin to bear fruit after about 3 years and enter the full-production period after 5 to 6 years. Seedlings generally begin to bear fruit after 6 to 8 years and enter the full-production period after 8 to 10 years.

How should Shatian pomelo be selected?

1. Skin: When selecting Shatian pomelo, look at the skin. If it is relatively rough and too yellow, it may be because it has been stored for a long time or did not grow well, while pomelo with fine, clean skin that is pale yellow or orange-yellow is well ripened, juicy, and sweet.

2. Weight: A heavier Shatian pomelo contains more water and tastes better. For pomelo of the same size, first weigh one by hand, then weigh a second one. Be careful not to compare using the left and right hands at the same time, because the feeling in the left and right hands may differ.

3. Shape: When selecting Shatian pomelo, look at the shape. A pomelo that is pointed at the top and wide at the bottom, with a flat, round base, is better if it has a short neck and a flat bottom. In addition, you can also squeeze it by hand. If it is not easy to press down, that indicates the segments are firm and the flesh is both sweet and tender, and only this kind of pomelo is tasty.