Huangshan Kiwifruit

Huangshan Kiwifruit

　　　“Huangshan Kiwifruit,” commonly known among locals as “yangtao,” is abundantly produced in the mountainous areas of the region, with particularly rich resources in the Huangshan Scenic Area where it can be found everywhere and picked at will.

　　“Huangshan Kiwifruit” has many interesting legends: it is said that over 2,000 years ago, many wild fruits resembling crabapples grew in Huangshan. These fruits were yellowish-brown in color, with many small brown spots on the skin, densely packed tiny seeds inside the flesh, and a sweet yet slightly sour juice. The monkeys of Huangshan loved to eat them, hence the name “Huangshan Kiwifruit.” Though the kiwifruit seeds are tiny, they are extremely resilient and spread far and wide through the monkeys’ droppings. As a result, across the five hundred square li of Huangshan, kiwifruit vines sprawl and cling everywhere. When the Ming Dynasty physician Li Shizhen visited Huangshan for research, he studied the kiwifruit and remarked: “Its shape is like a pear, its color like a peach, and monkeys love to eat it—hence its various names.”

　　There are over 20 varieties of “Huangshan Kiwifruit,” most of which grow in the damp and shady mountain forests. Their vines are good climbers, hanging from rocks and trees and absorbing moisture from the air. Huangshan’s cool climate, often shrouded in clouds and mist, results in kiwifruits that are especially juicy and sweet, with a strong fruity aroma. “Huangshan Kiwifruit” is extremely rich in nutrients, containing esters, fats, proteins, and minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium, along with particularly high levels of vitamins. According to medical research, its nutritional value is 5 to 10 times higher than that of citrus fruits, 19 to 83 times higher than apples, and 32 to 139 times higher than pears, earning it the title “King of Fruits.”