When was the watermelon introduced to China?
The watermelon is an annual trailing vine of the genus Citrullus in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), and can be called the "king of midsummer": refreshing and thirst-quenching, sweet and juicy, and rich in nutrients. Apart from containing no fat or cholesterol, it contains large amounts of glucose, malic acid, fructose, amino acids from protein, lycopene, and abundant vitamin C and other substances. Let's take a look below at when the watermelon was introduced to China!
When was the watermelon introduced to China?
China is the largest watermelon-producing region in the world, but there are differing accounts of the watermelon's origin. The more widely accepted view holds that the watermelon's native home is Africa, where it was originally a wild plant of the gourd family and was later cultivated by humans into the edible watermelon. As early as four thousand years ago, the Egyptians were already growing watermelons; later it gradually moved north, first spreading from the Mediterranean coast to Northern Europe, then southward into the Middle East and India, and in the 4th and 5th centuries it was introduced to China from the Western Regions.
Why is the watermelon called "xigua" (western melon)?
The watermelon was introduced to China from the Western Regions in the 4th and 5th centuries, which is why it is called "xigua" (western melon). According to the Ming dynasty scientist Xu Guangqi's "Complete Book of Agricultural Administration", "the watermelon, its seed comes from the Western Regions, hence the name." Li Shizhen of the Ming dynasty recorded in the "Compendium of Materia Medica": "According to Hu Jiao, who obtained melon seeds in the Uyghur region, it was named xigua. Thus the watermelon first entered China in the Five Dynasties period, and today it is found in both north and south." This shows that the cultivation of watermelons in China already has a long history.
What are the benefits of eating watermelon?
1. Cooling and heat relief: The watermelon has the effect of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, and of quenching fire and dispelling irritability. Eating watermelon in summer can promote fluid production and quench thirst, and clear heat and relieve summer heat.
2. Hydration and sun protection: The watermelon's water content is second to none among fruits, so it is especially suitable for replenishing the body's water loss in summer.
3. Smooth bowel movements: After eating watermelon, urine output increases noticeably, which can reduce bilirubin levels and has a certain effect on treating jaundice.
4. Slowing aging: Watermelon juice and the tender rind can increase skin elasticity, making a person look younger, reducing wrinkles, and adding luster.
5. Treating nephritis: The watermelon contains a certain amount of sugar and salt, so it has a relatively good therapeutic effect on mild kidney inflammation.
6. Sobering effect: The watermelon has the effect of counteracting alcohol; eaten raw or with watermelon juice drunk frequently, it makes a drunk person feel clear and refreshed, reviving the spirit and counteracting the alcohol.