Jingzhou Preserved Fruits

Jingzhou Preserved Fruits

　　are a traditional specialty of Huaihua, produced in Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County. Made from ingredients such as pumpkin, watermelon, winter melon, and certain Chinese medicinal herbs, they are preserved with honey. With a wide variety of types and designs, they have become one of the most popular foods.

　　Jingzhou preserved fruits are made using slices of unripe pomelo or sliced and carved winter melon, cucumber, tomato, etc., often featuring auspicious patterns such as dragons, phoenixes, chickens, sheep, fish, and shrimp. After being candied and dried, the processed preserved fruits are glossy, crystal-clear, and exquisitely delicate.

　　In Jingzhou’s Miao and Dong Autonomous County, alongside the fame brought by the inclusion of its ethnic culture “Miao Gexiang Teng” in the first batch of China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage, a locally produced, handcrafted “fruit preserves tea” has gradually gained attention. This food, made from various fruits and vegetables and crafted into different shapes, is referred to by locals as “preserved fruits.” Among them, those carved from green pomelo are especially exceptional, considered true works of art.

　　Jingzhou preserved fruits are made by slicing unripe green pomelo, then carving intricate designs of dragons, phoenixes, fish, shrimp, flowers, birds, insects, leaves, as well as patterns like “magpies celebrating plum blossoms,” “peacocks spreading their tails,” “swallows pecking mud,” “two dragons playing with a pearl,” “Chang’e flying to the moon,” and “fish playing in water” using a willow-leaf knife. These are rinsed in water, mixed with white sugar or honey, and then dried. The result is a crispy, sweet, and fragrant treat that is not only delicious but also has medicinal benefits for moistening the lungs and promoting saliva production. In addition to green pomelo, other ingredients used for carved preserved fruits include winter melon, cucumber, vegetable melon, tomato, bitter melon, red beans, sword beans, melon tubes, and heavenly eggplant. The melons are cut into rectangles, diamond shapes, four-pointed stars, and other decorative forms; bitter melon is carved to resemble scabby heads; cowpeas are twisted into three-ear knots or button knots; sword beans are woven into orchids; tomatoes are shaped into crabapple flowers; heavenly eggplants are made into jade hairpins; and melon tubes are formed into immortal pillars. All of these preserved fruits make excellent gifts.

　　Even before eating, people are drawn in by the charming and whimsical patterns of the carved preserved fruits, which whet the appetite. When eaten, they offer a unique flavor, leaving one feeling refreshed and invigorated. Their crisp, sweet, and fragrant taste comes from the pomelo slices and high-quality white sugar. They can be eaten directly, making a satisfying “crunch” in the mouth, or steeped in hot water—especially favored by the elderly and children. A common local way to enjoy them is to place the preserved fruits in a cup, pour hot water over them, and steep for 3 to 4 minutes, sometimes adding dates or floral tea. The steeped preserved fruits become crystal-clear, sweet, and fragrant, while the tea becomes pleasantly sweet, making it a healthy green food.

　　In 2009, the craft of carved preserved fruits was included in the Hunan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List.