Zengcheng Xianjinfeng Lychee

Zengcheng Xianjinfeng Lychee: Xianjinfeng Lychee from Jigang Village, Xincun Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou City

　　Zengcheng Xianjinfeng Lychee (Regional Brand) – Zengcheng District Agricultural Products Promotion Center

　　Quality Characteristics

     Xianjinfeng, originally named Yanzhihong (Crimson), also known as JinFeng, was initially just an undeveloped lychee germplasm resource. Legend has it that during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, villagers from Jigang Village invited their cousin to taste Yanzhihong lychees when they ripened. The cousin had never seen such bright red, sweet, and delicious lychees. To impress his superior, he picked a basket and rushed to the capital to present them. Even after seven days, the lychees remained bright red, and the flesh stayed sweet and juicy. The superior was delighted and asked the name of the lychee. The cousin thought, since these were offered to the imperial court and Jicun Town was blessed by the fairy spirit of He Xiangu, why not call them “Xianjinfeng” (Immortal’s Tribute)? So he replied, “These are Xianjinfeng lychees from Zengcheng.” The superior was very pleased, and soon the Xianjinfeng gained fame. Local officials began imitating the cultivation, but none could replicate the flavor. In anger, one secretly burned down the Yanzhi Garden. Fortunately, some villagers had grafted two Xianjinfeng lychee trees onto Guiwei trees. Fearing trouble, they kept quiet, and thus few knew of the Xianjinfeng, which gradually disappeared.

　　Zengcheng Xianjinfeng Lychee, a national geographical indication product, is one of the finest lychee varieties. It is renowned for its thick, juicy flesh and sweet, honey-like flavor. With over a hundred years of cultivation history in Zengcheng, it was once an imperial tribute during the Qing Dynasty, served to the emperor.

　　Quality Characteristics: Zengcheng Xianjinfeng Lychee trees have a semi-round canopy shape, are relatively open, and have medium vigor. They are late-maturing, with fruits ripening in mid-to-late July, about 7–10 days later than Nuomici. The fruit is flat-heart shaped or heart-shaped, with raised shoulders, bright red skin that is thick and tough, and few cracked fruits. The fruit is relatively large, averaging 25 grams per fruit. The flesh is thick, waxy yellow, with a honey-like aroma and a sweet, refreshing taste. It contains 19.1% soluble solids, 16.2% total sugar, 0.11% titratable acid, and 30 mg of vitamin C per 100g of flesh. The edible rate is 79%, and the kernel-shrunken rate reaches 85%.

　　Regional Uniqueness: Zengcheng is a hilly area, with mountain soils primarily composed of red soil and lateritic red earth, rich in potassium and phosphorus—nutrients particularly beneficial for lychee growth. The Tropic of Cancer passes through the region. Located in the southern subtropics, Zengcheng has a maritime monsoon climate with cool, dry winters and early springs, which is conducive to lychee flower bud differentiation. The late spring and summer bring high temperatures and abundant rainfall, ideal for flowering, fruiting, and nutrient accumulation. This unique geographical environment provides optimal growing conditions for Zengcheng lychees, resulting in fruits that are sweet, refreshing, and distinctive. As a traditional premium agricultural product, Zengcheng lychees enjoy high recognition across the Pearl River Delta region.

　　Processing Features: 1. Lychee Banquet: Using lychees as an ingredient in cooking, whether fried, boiled, stir-fried, or deep-fried, creates a delightful array of dishes. During the lychee season in Zengcheng, many restaurants and star-rated hotels offer specially prepared Lychee Banquets, featuring dozens of varieties—ranging from upscale seafood and delicacies to high-end dishes and desserts, as well as local specialty-inspired creations. 2. Dried Lychees: The processing of fresh Zengcheng lychees into dried fruit has a long history. The finished product has thick flesh, a sweet aroma, and is highly nutritious. It can nourish blood and spleen and has long been favored as both a personal treat and a thoughtful gift, exported both domestically and internationally.