Sihuojiao Citrus

Sihuojiao Citrus

　　    The Sihu Management Area in Xizhen is adjacent to the Wanshanhong Citrus Farm. Over a hundred years ago, citrus orchards covered the fields and hillsides around the village, producing more than 500 tons of jiao citrus annually and giving rise to many interesting tales. In the 1950s, in the orchard of a villager named Luo Meide, an old citrus tree that had been growing for decades produced 500 kilograms (700 jin by the old measurement) of fruit in a single harvest. At that time, a Soviet fruit tree expert happened to be visiting Raoping and, upon hearing the news, went specially to the orchard to inspect and photograph it. In the early 1960s, Sihu jiao citrus crossed the ocean and defeated the challenge of American Valencia oranges in the fruit market of Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, taking over the market and becoming all the rage in the city.

    Today, Sihuojiao citrus still maintains its historic reputation. It is beloved by merchants for its attractive orange-yellow rind, smooth and glossy skin, well-shaped fruits, deep red flesh, plump and crisp texture, abundant juice with little pulp, richly sweet taste, lingering fragrance, high vitamin content, and excellent storage qualities. When the fruit ripens around the twelfth lunar month, customers flock to the area, competing eagerly to buy.