What are the effects and benefits of Shatian pomelo?

Winter is a good season for eating pomelo. When visiting relatives during the Chinese New Year, 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, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and was first grown by the locals of Shatian Village, hence the name Shatian pomelo. There are many ways to distinguish varieties of Shatian pomelo. For example, by the taste of the flesh it can be divided into two main categories, sour pomelo and sweet pomelo; by the color of the flesh it can be divided into two main categories, white-fleshed pomelo and red-fleshed pomelo; and by appearance it can also be divided into spherical or pear-shaped. Let us now take a closer look at Shatian pomelo:

I. Place of origin

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

II. Cultivation methods and environmental requirements

Shatian pomelo seedlings can be raised by several methods, including grafting, air 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 the high-yield period after 5 to 6 years. Seedling Shatian pomelo generally begins to bear fruit after 6 to 8 years and enters the high-yield 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 first be considered in developing Shatian pomelo. A garden must be established in a place 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, wherever citrus can be grown, Shatian pomelo can also be grown.

III. Effects and benefits of Shatian pomelo

Shatian pomelo is rich in vitamin C, and the sugars it contains are mainly fructose, which can be directly absorbed and utilized by the human body. Therefore, it is especially suitable for sick people, 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 sobering up and relieving irritability. 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 sober up and relieve irritability; the 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 be cooked into dishes or made into preserved 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 knowledge about Shatian pomelo. As the end of the year approaches, 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, which is to "choose small, not large", 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 having better sugar content and taste than the relatively large ones.