Deqing Sugar Orange

Deqing Sugar Orange

Deqing Sugar Orange is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Deqing Sugar Orange is a renowned traditional premium agricultural product from Deqing County. Its flesh is crisp, seedless, and pulp-free, with abundant juice and a sweet taste. Rich in vitamins, trace elements, minerals, organic acids, and more, it is beneficial to human health and is hailed as a "pollution-free healthy food."

　　Experts say the quality of Deqing Sugar Orange comes from the area’s unique geographical environment and climatic conditions. The mild climate, abundant heat, plentiful rainfall, and long frost-free period result in optimal levels of soluble solids, organic sugars, vitamins, organic acids, trace elements, and minerals in the oranges.

　　It is reported that the county has been recognized by the National Ministry of Agriculture as a "National Standardized Green Food Production Base" and a "National Pollution-Free Gonggan and Sugar Orange Production Area." It has also been honored as one of the "Top Ten Citrus-Producing Counties in China" and among the "Top Ten Pollution-Free Fruit and Vegetable Producing Counties in China."

　　Geographical Scope

　　Decheng Subdistrict, Xinxu Town, Huilong Town, Guanxu Town, Maxu Town, Gaoliang Town, Mocun Town, Yongfeng Town, Bozhi Town, Wulong Town, Fengcun Town, Yuecheng Town, and Jiushi Town in Deqing County

　　Unique Qualities

　　Deqing Gonggan features an attractive shape, golden-yellow color, thin peel with few seeds, crisp and tender flesh, sweet and fragrant taste, high sugar content with low acidity, and a rich flavor. It combines the beautiful appearance of oranges with the delicate texture and easy-to-peel nature of mandarins—qualities unmatched by other citrus varieties—and is hailed as the "King of Citrus." Testing shows that Deqing Gonggan averages 120–150 grams per fruit, with a diameter of 60–65 mm. Its soluble solids (mainly sugar) content reaches over 11–13%, edibility rate exceeds 76.7–79%, and the solid-acid ratio is as high as 36.7–37.1:1, with total acid content as low as 0.3–0.35%. It matures around the Winter Solstice, has a long harvest season, and is an excellent fruit for festive occasions. Rich in nutrients—including multiple vitamins, trace elements, minerals, and organic acids—it helps relieve stagnation and thirst in autumn and winter, effectively replenishing essential nutrients and hydration. Recognized by the fruit industry as a new, fashionable, and healthy fruit, it is highly sought after.

　　Cultural Background

　　Deqing Sugar Orange is a famous traditional premium product with a long cultivation history. As sweet as cane sugar, it is thus named Sugar Orange. With its orange-red hue, small size, thin peel, crisp flesh, and deliciously sweet taste, its flavor is widely praised.

　　Deqing Sugar Orange is a famous traditional premium product with a long cultivation history. As sweet as cane sugar, it is thus named Sugar Orange. With its orange-red hue, small size, thin peel, crisp flesh, and deliciously sweet taste, its flavor is well acclaimed.

　　The superior quality of Deqing Sugar Orange mainly derives from the county’s unique geographical, climatic, and soil conditions, along with scientifically mature cultivation techniques. Geographically and climatically, Deqing is located in northwestern Guangdong, in a low-latitude area with a mild climate, abundant heat, plentiful rainfall, and very short frost periods. The annual average temperature is 22.3°C, annual rainfall averages 1,513 mm, and annual sunshine duration averages 1,848 hours. At the same time, Deqing is a typical mountainous county, surrounded by mountains on its eastern, western, and northern sides, and bordered by the Xijiang River to the south. With extensive forest coverage and beautiful scenery, it enjoys a unique microclimate that is warmer in winter and cooler in summer than neighboring counties, with relatively large day-night temperature differences year-round.

　　Characteristics of Deqing Sugar Orange: flat-round shape, vibrant red color, moderate size, thin peel, crisp flesh, sweet taste, and easy to peel. It leaves a refreshing and lingering aftertaste and stores well. Widely praised, Deqing Sugar Orange is a traditional premium agricultural product. Testing by the Guangzhou Vegetable Quality Inspection Center (under the Ministry of Agriculture) shows: a fruit shape index of 0.81; peel thickness under 2.2 mm; single fruit weight between 0.5–80 grams; soluble solids no less than 12%; 11.5 grams of total sugar and below 0.35 grams of fruit acid per 100 ml, with a solid-acid ratio as high as 35.5–56.5:1. It contains multiple vitamins, trace elements, minerals, and organic acids beneficial to health, and is hailed as the “finest orange” and a “healthy, fashionable food.”

　　With strong technical support from research institutes and universities in Guangdong Province and Zhaoqing City, Deqing County has established a virus-free citrus nursery base, a purification and rejuvenation center, and a preservation technology and promotion center, enhancing both cultivation and quality management. Currently, the total area of citrus cultivation in Deqing has reached 200,000 mu, involving over 38,000 farming households—about 60% of all households in the county. Last year, the planted area in production was 70,000 mu, yielding over 200 million jin (approximately 100 million kg) with sales revenue exceeding 400 million yuan. This year, 120,000 mu are in production, with an expected yield of over 400 million jin and sales revenue projected to surpass 800 million yuan—more than double last year’s figure. Today, Deqing Gonggan and Sugar Orange are bestsellers nationwide, with over 130 marketing outlets established in more than 50 major cities. They have also begun entering international markets, being exported to countries and regions such as the Netherlands, the UK, and Australia.

　　Deqing County has achieved remarkable success in vigorously developing its signature citrus industry. Recognized by China’s National Ministry of Agriculture as a “National Standardized Green Food Production Base” and a “National Pollution-Free Gonggan and Sugar Orange Production Area,” it has also been honored by the Organizing Committee of the China Fruit and Vegetable Industry Forum as one of the “Top Ten Citrus-Producing Counties in China.” Deqing Sugar Orange is now a bestseller across China and renowned overseas. After earning the title of “China’s King of Oranges, Favorite Among Hong Kong, Macau, and Overseas Consumers,” its fame has grown significantly both at home and abroad.