Guangwu Pomegranate

Guangwu Pomegranate

　　Produced in Xingyang, Henan. The Guangwu pomegranate comes in a wide variety of types, each with a unique flavor. There are the copper-skinned pomegranates with their bright apricot-yellow sheen, the iron-skinned ones marked with rust-colored speckles, the snow-white jade-like white-skinned pomegranates, and the multi-hued flower-skinned ones in red, yellow, and black. Among them, the copper and iron-skinned varieties are considered the best. They aid digestion, stimulate appetite, and soothe the stomach, making them an excellent gift for visiting relatives and friends. In addition, pomegranate peel can also be used in traditional Chinese medicine, with medicinal properties that help stop vomiting and diarrhea.

　　 Main production area: Liugou Village, Gaocun Township, Xingyang City, Henan Province

　　 　　The cultivation of Heyin pomegranates originated in the Han Dynasty. When Zhang Qian was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions, he brought back high-quality pomegranate seeds from the Parthian Empire (modern-day Iran) and planted them in the Yellow River basin. The pomegranates grown in Heyin County (now Guangwu and Beimang Townships) are also known as Heyin pomegranates or “An pomegranates.” These pomegranates are famed for their classic color, plump seeds, sweet taste, and lack of residue, making them nationally renowned and widely sold across the country as one of Xingyang’s famous local specialties. The main areas where pomegranates are cultivated include Liugou and Guanyu in Beimang, as well as Zhen’gou and Zhaiziyu in Guangwu Township. In Liugou’s Xizhaoyu area alone, the annual yield reaches 50,000–100,000 kilograms.