Treasure Fruit Kiwifruit

Treasure Fruit Kiwifruit

　　Locals in the mountains call it “yang tao,” also known as “kiwi fruit” or “vine peach.” Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty explained it as follows: “It is shaped like a pear, colored like a peach, and loved by monkeys—hence the name kiwi fruit came about.” Kiwi fruit is a renowned and high-quality specialty of Zhangjiajie City. When it ripens, the hillsides are covered with it, and one can easily pick it while wandering through the mountainous areas, which is why some say Sangzhi is the “hometown of kiwi fruit.” Originally a wild vine plant, kiwi fruit boasts sweet and delicious flavors, a unique taste, and rich nutrition, along with health and beauty benefits. It contains more than ten types of amino acids, including protein-digesting enzymes, as well as a variety of vitamins. In addition to elements such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iodine, chromium, and manganese, it is also packed with large amounts of vitamin C. Just four grams of kiwi fruit per person per day can meet the body’s need for vitamin C. It’s no wonder kiwi fruit is worthy of being called the “king of fruits.” With its excellent color, aroma, and taste, the fruit has a yellowish-brown skin, tender yellow flesh, and milky-white core. When sliced, it appears crystal clear with beautiful patterns, and hundreds of tiny black seeds, smaller than sesame seeds, shine like sparkling gemstones. The flesh is delicate, juicy, and has a uniquely sweet and sour flavor that leaves a fragrant aftertaste. Internationally cherished, kiwi fruit has become one of the most popular and best-selling fruits today, earning the reputation of a “super fruit.” Besides being eaten fresh, kiwi fruit also has medicinal uses, as documented in ancient Chinese medical texts. According to the Tang Dynasty’s “Supplement to Materia Medica,” it can treat joint wind, paralysis, and premature graying of hair in middle age. The “Kaibao Materia Medica” states it can “quench sudden thirst, relieve irritability, and counteract mineral toxins.” Modern medical practice has proven that kiwi fruit strengthens the body, clears heat, promotes urination, stimulates saliva production, moistens dryness, regulates digestion, and soothes qi. Its high vitamin C content blocks carcinogenic nitrosamines in the human body, achieving a blockage rate of up to 98.5%. It also enhances the elasticity and resilience of heart muscles and blood vessel walls, accelerates the conversion of cholesterol into bile acid, lowers blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and helps prevent and treat conditions such as hypertension, arteriosclerosis, cirrhosis, and coronary heart disease. Mountain dwellers are generally strong and less prone to illness, possibly due to their regular consumption of kiwi fruit. (Zhangjiajie)