The Benefits and Uses of Shatian Pomelo and How to Grow It

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

I. Place of Origin

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

II. Planting Methods and Environmental Requirements

Shatian pomelo seedlings can be propagated by several methods, including grafting, air layering, cuttings and sowing, but in production practice, grafted seedlings are superior to air-layered and cutting seedlings. Grafted Shatian pomelo seedlings generally begin to bear fruit after about 3 years and enter the full production period after 5 to 6 years. Seedling-grown Shatian pomelo generally begins to bear fruit after 6 to 8 years and enters the full production period after 8 to 10 years.

In choosing the geographical environment for planting Shatian pomelo, because Shatian pomelo has relatively large fertilizer and water requirements, sufficient fertilizer and water is an important condition that must be considered first in developing Shatian pomelo. It is necessary to choose a site with deep, loose, fertile soil and abundant water sources to establish an orchard. For mountainous land, a gentle slope with a gradient below 20 degrees facing south with its back to the north should be selected, and there should be water-source forest at the top of the hill. Generally speaking, anywhere that can grow citrus can also grow Shatian pomelo.

III. The Benefits and Uses 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 consumption by patients, postpartum women, children and the elderly. In traditional Chinese medicine, Shatian pomelo is considered to have the effects of relieving cough and calming asthma, clearing heat and resolving phlegm, strengthening the spleen and promoting digestion, and relieving alcohol and restlessness. Its flesh is cold in nature and sweet in taste, and can relieve cough and calm asthma, clear heat and resolve phlegm, strengthen the spleen and promote digestion, and relieve alcohol and restlessness; the peel is warm in nature and bitter and pungent in taste, and has the effects of regulating qi, resolving phlegm and easing the middle, strengthening the spleen and promoting digestion, and dispersing cold and drying dampness, and can also be cooked into dishes or made into candied fruit; the outer peel and pomelo leaves contain volatile oil and have effects such as reducing inflammation, relieving pain, promoting diuresis and refreshing the mind, and can 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 some of the knowledge about Shatian pomelo. Since it is the end of the year, everyone can also start going to the supermarket to pick out some fruit to keep at home in preparation for entertaining guests. When choosing Shatian pomelo, there is also a little experience worth sharing, and that is to "choose the small ones, not the big ones," because in orchards where fertilizer and water are properly controlled, the fruit produced is relatively uniform, with no particularly large or particularly small ones, and the relatively small pomelos are also very authentic, often with better sugar content and taste than the relatively large ones.