Xinfeng Chayote

Xinfeng Chayote

Xinfeng Chayote is a protected geographical indication product.

　　【Scientific Name】 Sechium edule Swortz

　　【Common Names】 Choko, Chayote, Alligator Pear Squash, Vegetable Pear, Mirliton, Christophine, Chouchou, etc.

　　【English】 chayote also called huisquil or chocho.

　　【Family & Genus】 Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family), Sechium genus

　　【Overview】 A perennial herbaceous vine of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is widely cultivated in its native tropical Americas, and can also be grown as an annual in temperate zones. The vines grow rapidly and have tendrils. The flowers are small and white; the fruit is pear-shaped, green, about 7.5–10 cm (about 3–4 inches) long, with grooves on the surface; there is usually only one seed. The fruit can be boiled and eaten, and the young tuberous roots can be prepared similarly to potatoes.

　　【Characteristics and Features】 A perennial climbing herbaceous plant with a persistent root system. The roots are fibrous, with thick lateral roots that can develop into large tuberous roots after the second year; the stems are vining, exceeding 10 m in length, highly branched, with leaves and tendrils borne on the nodes; leaves are alternate, palmately five-lobed, entire margins, green or dark green in color; monoecious with separate male and female flowers, cross-pollinated by insects; fruits are pear-shaped with five distinct longitudinal grooves, a seam line at the top, green to milky-white in color, weighing 250–500 g per fruit, with white flesh; seeds are flat, spindle-shaped, and lack dormancy.

　　Prefers warm temperatures, heat-tolerant but not cold-resistant. Optimal growth temperature is 12–25°C; growth is inhibited above 30°C, with extreme heat tolerance up to 40°C, while temperatures below 5°C can cause cold damage; suitable for moderate light intensity, shade-tolerant; requires humid air; thrives in fertile soils with strong fertility and water retention capabilities.

　　【Distribution】 Originally from Mexico and Central America, introduced to China in the 19th century. Now widely distributed in tropical regions, with cultivation gradually expanding northward into warm temperate areas. In China, it has long been cultivated in southern provinces such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Fujian, Yunnan, and Guizhou. In recent years, cultivation has gradually developed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

　　【Main Uses】 The fruit, tender shoots and leaves, tendrils, and underground tuberous roots can all be used in cooking, making it a truly pollution-free vegetable. The large vines can be used as fodder; the stems provide strong fibers suitable for making ropes. The fruit is high in zinc, beneficial for children’s intellectual development, and effective in treating infertility in both sexes, especially male sexual dysfunction, and can alleviate age-related vision decline. Tender fruits harvested at 20 days contain more than twice the calcium of cucumbers, winter melons, and zucchini, and four times the iron of pumpkins and twelve times that of cucumbers. White or cream-colored varieties are of the best quality. The fruit has an attractive shape, suitable for ornamental planting in gardens, offering both aesthetic and shading benefits.

　　【Varieties】 Chayote is divided into two types based on fruit color: white-skinned and green-skinned varieties.

　　1. Green-skinned variety: Vigorous growth, thick stems, long vines, and high yield. The skin is dark green, the fruit is longer and larger, may have small spines or be smooth, weighing around 0.5 kg. It is high-yielding but has a milder flavor, and is the main cultivated variety currently.

　　2. White-skinned variety: Weaker growth, thin stems, short vines, and lower yield. The skin is pale green, the fruit is rounder and smaller, smooth with no spines, flesh is dense, mildly flavored, less fishy, better taste, but with lower yield, suitable for raw consumption.

　　【Nutrition and Culinary Uses】 Chayote has tender flesh. Per 100 g of fruit, it contains 90–92 g water, 0.9–1.2 g protein, 2.6–7.7 g carbohydrates, 12–22 mg vitamin C, and 20 μg carotene. It is rich in potassium (up to 190 mg), riboflavin 0.1 mg, calcium 500 mg, phosphorus 320 mg, iron 40 mg, sodium 10 mg, copper 0.03 mg, magnesium 7 mg, zinc 8.35 μg, selenium 2.3 μg. It also contains folate, pantothenic acid, niacin, and others.

　　Chayote sprouts are also a nutritious vegetable. Per 100 g of fresh sprouts, they contain 1.8 g protein, 0.5 g fat, 4.3 g carbohydrates, 20 mg calcium, 10 mg phosphorus, 14 mg iron, and especially high selenium content of 30.58–53.01 μg per 100 g, unmatched by most vegetables.

　　Chayote can be prepared in many ways. Fresh fruits can be sliced or julienned for stir-frying (with meat or vegetables), salads, soups, hot pot, and as filling for premium dumplings. It can also be processed into pickles or canned goods. Abroad, chayote is commonly steamed, baked, fried, or pan-seared. Besides the fruit, the roots and stems are also edible, with a taste and preparation method similar to potatoes, and are rich in vitamins A and C. Young leaves and shoots are also edible as vegetables.

　　For best quality, choose young chayote fruits with glossy shoulders and shallow longitudinal grooves on the skin. The skin should be bright green, tender, and not hardened. The peak season for chayote is late autumn. It stores very well at room temperature, lasting from October through March or April of the following year with little change in flavor.

　　【Precautions】 As chayote is a warming food, those with yin deficiency, internal heat, or weak constitutions should consume it in moderation.

　　【Medicinal Value】

　　1. Among gourd vegetables, chayote is nutritionally comprehensive and eating it regularly helps enhance the body’s resistance to disease.

　　2. Chayote has 2–3 times more protein and calcium than cucumbers, along with significantly higher vitamins and minerals. It is also low in calories and sodium, making it a healthful vegetable for heart disease and hypertension patients. Regular consumption aids in diuresis and sodium excretion, and helps dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

　　3. According to the National Nutrition Association, zinc plays an important role in children’s intellectual development. Eating zinc-rich chayote regularly can help improve cognitive function.

　　4. Traditional Chinese medicine believes it helps regulate qi, harmonize the middle burner, soothe the liver, and relieve coughs. It is suitable for indigestion, chest tightness, vomiting, liver and stomach discomfort, as well as coughs with excessive phlegm due to bronchitis.

　　5. Chayote sprouts contain up to 30.58–53.01 μg of selenium per 100 g, unmatched by many vegetables. Modern medicine confirms that selenium is an essential trace element for humans, with an adult daily intake recommendation of 30–50 μg. Selenium has strong antioxidant properties, helping protect cell membrane structure and function.

　　6. Chayote is effective in treating infertility caused by nutritional deficiencies in both men and women, particularly male sexual dysfunction.

　　The protected geographical indication area for Xinfeng Chayote includes the administrative regions of Huangcuo Town, Fengcheng Town, Meikeng Town, and Shatian Town in Xinfeng County, Guangdong Province.