Jiangling Zhujú (Red Tangerine)

Jiangling Zhujú (Red Tangerine)

　　 Zhujú is a type of tangerine, named for its red skin. It has a sweet taste, contains seeds, and features plump, though not very large, fruit. It is one of the specialties of Jiangling.

　　As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, this kind of tangerine tree was widely cultivated in the region of Chu’s capital, Jiangling. The great poet Qu Yuan once wrote the famous poem "Ode to the Tangerine," praising the noble character of the tangerine. The "Lüshi Chunqiu" also records: "The most beautiful of fruits—the tangerines of Jiangpu." By the height of the Tang Dynasty, the southern capital of Jiangling produced abundant tangerines at low prices, prompting the famous poet Du Fu to write the line "Zhujú, beyond all price." Today, seedless varieties of this tangerine have been developed and are highly popular.