Xinhui Big Red Tangerine

Xinhui Big Red Tangerine

The Xinhui Big Red Tangerine is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Scientifically known as Citrus reticulata 'Chachi', it is a renowned local specialty of Xinhui. With its unique quality, it became popular across various regions during the Ming and Qing dynasties and was listed as a "tribute product", presented to the imperial court every year.

　　According to records, the Xinhui Big Red Tangerine has been cultivated for more than 600 years. Through long-term selection, it has naturally formed distinct varieties, including the Large Oily Variety, Small Oily Variety, Large-Stem Variety, and Tall-Stem Variety. Its fruit is flat-round, oily and glossy in texture, with skin color transitioning from green to red during ripening, turning bright red around the Winter Solstice. The tangerine flesh is crisp, juicy, and moderately sweet and sour. Each 100 ml contains 0.71–0.82 grams of citric acid and 10.1–11.3 grams of sugar, with soluble solids at 11–12%. Each fruit weighs approximately 100–150 grams.

　　The Xinhui Big Red Tangerine holds high medicinal value. Its peel is thin, soft, brightly colored, and fragrant, offering functions such as reducing phlegm, relieving coughs, clearing stagnation, dispelling wind, and removing dampness. Its seeds have qi-regulating and pain-relieving effects, often used to treat hernia pain.

　　Xinhui Tangerine, also known as Xinhui Guangchen Tangerine, Chenpi Tangerine, or Xinhui Big Red Tangerine (scientific name: Citrus reticulata 'Chachi'), is characterized by its dual use of peel and flesh, as well as its dual role as both food and medicine — the most prominent feature of Xinhui Tangerines. It is an outstanding variety selected by Guangchen tangerine farmers over more than 700 years of cultivation history from the Big Red Tangerine of the Rutaceae family, Citrus genus.

　　Xinhui Tangerines have short trees with slender, soft branches. Their fruits are medium-sized and flat-round. When ripe, the peel is orange-yellow with slight green hues, tough yet not easily broken, with large oil glands and a rich fragrance. The flesh is juicy, with a sugar-to-acid ratio of 15:32, giving it a uniquely sweet yet tangy flavor. Each 100 ml of juice contains 34.3 mg of vitamin C, 0.76 g of citric acid, and 11.13% soluble solids.

　　Historically, Xinhui Tangerines were cultivated in four varieties: Large Oily Variety, Small Oily Variety, Large-Stem Variety, and High-Stem Variety. Through continuous cultivation and summarization, Guangchen Chenpi selects the best-quality Large Oily Variety for tangerine growing, peeling, and production — one of the reasons behind the exceptional quality of Guangchen Chenpi.

　　Authentic Xinhui Tangerines are treasures of the region, serving both as peel and fruit, and are a rare dual-use variety that combines food and medicine. They can be eaten fresh or processed into tangerine cakes or juice. However, the peel is more valuable than the flesh, as it serves as the raw material for authentic Xinhui Chenpi. The tangerine membranes and seeds are also used in medicine. Furthermore, they ripen at the “most nourishing time of the year”.

　　The geographical indication protection area for Xinhui Tangerines is based on the range proposed in the "Request for Delimiting the Geographical Indication Product Origin Range of Xinhui Tangerines" (Xinhui Government Report [2006] No. 6) issued by the People’s Government of Xinhui District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province. It covers the administrative regions of 11 subdistrict offices and towns under the jurisdiction of Xinhui District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, including Huicheng Subdistrict Office, Daze Town, Siqian Town, Luokeng Town, Shuangshui Town, Yamen Town, Shadui Town, Gujing Town, Sanjiang Town, Muzhou Town, and Da'ao Town, as well as the Reclamation Command Area.