Mayang Sugar Oranges

Mayang Sugar Oranges

　　Mayang Sugar Oranges are a specialty of Mayang County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. Commonly known as sugar bubble oranges or sugar tangerines, these oranges are prized for their large size, few seeds, and high sugar content. The “Mayang Brand” Sugar Oranges boast a more vibrant appearance and superior quality. Tested by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Citrus and Seedling Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, they have been rated as top-quality products, standing out uniquely across the nation. In 2001, they won the Gold Award at the Third Hunan Provincial Agricultural Expo. Mayang County has been hailed by the *China Forestry Yearbook* as the “Hometown of Chinese Sugar Oranges.”

　　Sugar oranges are a local superior variety selected in the 1960s from natural mutations of common sweet oranges, named for their high sugar content and commonly referred to as sugar bubble oranges or sugar tangerines. In the mid-to-late 1980s, Mayang County began large-scale cultivation with funding from a World Bank loan, and the planted area has now reached over 60,000 mu, with an annual output of more than 40,000 tons. The large fruit size, few seeds, and high sugar content of Mayang Sugar Oranges once earned high praise from Comrade 1, the former General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Through years of continuous purification, selection, and high-quality cultivation research—coupled with Mayang County’s unique natural conditions including geography, soil, climate, and water quality—the “Mayang Brand” Sugar Oranges now feature a more vibrant appearance and superior quality. Tested by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Citrus and Seedling Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, they have been rated as top-quality products, standing out uniquely across the nation. In 2001, they won the Gold Award at the Third Hunan Provincial Agricultural Expo. The product has a wide market reach, being sold in over 100 large and medium-sized cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Wuhan, Beijing, and Chongqing, as well as in Hong Kong, Macau, and countries such as Russia, Mongolia, and Vietnam. Mayang County has been hailed by the *China Forestry Yearbook* as the “Hometown of Chinese Sugar Oranges.”

　　Mayang Sugar Oranges are round in shape, with a well-formed, neat appearance and smooth skin that is yellowish-red and vibrant. Each fruit weighs 156.5 grams on average, with vertical and horizontal diameters of 6.51 x 6.83 cm and a fruit shape index of 0.95. They contain 12.3% soluble solids, reaching up to 15.8%, with 7.04 grams of reducing sugar, 11.08 grams of invert sugar, 10.88 grams of total sugar, 0.26 grams of total acid, and 36.36 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 ml of juice. The sugar-acid ratio is 41.1:1, the solid-acid ratio is 47.3:1, the juice content is 59.4%, and the edible rate is 70.6%. The oranges are seedless or have very few seeds and are rich in trace elements such as calcium, boron, iron, and zinc. They ripen in mid-to-late November, featuring tender flesh, a richly sweet flavor, and a refreshing aroma.

　　Mayang Sugar Oranges are excellent in color, aroma, and taste, with abundant juice and a delightful flavor, making them ideal for fresh consumption. In addition to being rich in sugar, organic acids, and minerals, they are also high in vitamin C, offering significant nutritional value. Regular consumption can help clear heat, resolve phlegm, regulate qi, lower blood pressure, improve vision, and promote diuresis. The peel, orange pulp, seeds, and leaves all have medicinal uses, while the flowers can be used to make scented tea. The trees remain evergreen year-round, with fragrant blossoms and beautiful fruits that also serve as ornamental greenery.