Zhaping Shatian Pomelo

Zhaping Shatian Pomelo

　　Name: Zhaping Shatian Pomelo Origin: Zhaping

　　Zhaping County is located in the northeastern part of Guangxi. The area enjoys a mild climate, abundant sunlight, fertile soil, and plentiful rainfall—providing ideal natural conditions for growing Shatian pomelos. It is one of the prime regions for cultivating the fruit and one of Guangxi’s key Shatian pomelo production bases.

　　Our county has a long history of cultivating Shatian pomelos. In particular, the "Osmanthus Honey Pomelo" grown in Wen Zhu Town won the National Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations’ Quality Product Award in 1983 and the Guangxi Quality Fruit Award in 1998, earning a strong reputation in the fruit market. The "Osmanthus Honey Pomelo" is popular across the country due to its large size, thin peel, and high sugar content.

　　In 1997, our county launched a comprehensive campaign to upgrade low-yield Shatian pomelo orchards, mobilizing government agencies and employees to support one small orchard or 1–3 farming households in improving their fruit cultivation. This effort achieved significant results. In 2000, the Comprehensive Technology Harvest Plan Project for Low-Yield Shatian Pomelo Renovation in Zhaping County was included in the Regional Science Commission’s "Spark" Program for integrated technological upgrades. In October 2001, the Hezhou regional project acceptance team inspected a 42-mu Shatian pomelo orchard in Group 13 of Wen Zhu Village, Wen Zhu Town. Based on random sampling, weighing, and yield estimation, the orchard produced a total of 110,509 kilograms, averaging 2,631.17 kilograms per mu.

　　In recent years, Zhaping County has vigorously promoted an eco-agricultural model known as “pig–biogas–fruit.” By applying biogas slurry to orchards, the cost of producing Shatian pomelos is reduced while the quality is enhanced—the fruits have a glossy peel, tender flesh, and are sweet and fragrant. Additionally, the trees gain stronger resistance to pests and diseases, reducing pesticide use and meeting green food standards, which makes them highly favored by consumers. Thanks to low-yield renovation and the use of biogas liquid as fertilizer, the growth of Shatian pomelos in the county has improved year after year, with noticeable enhancements in tree canopy, vigor, fruit shape, and quality.

Currently, the county’s total Shatian pomelo planting area reaches 51,000 mu, with an annual output exceeding 30,000 tons, making it one of Guangxi’s major Shatian pomelo production bases. The fruit is mainly grown in towns such as Zhaping, Wujiang, Fuyu, Wen Zhu, Xianhui, Bijing, and Zouma.

　　Zhaping Shatian pomelos are large with thin peels, featuring crisp, tender, sweet, and fragrant flesh that is rich in nutrition and excellent in flavor. Their soluble solids content exceeds 13%, and they contain various vitamins needed by the human body. Each 100 grams of juice contains 106.04 milligrams of vitamin C—1–3 times higher than oranges and tangerines. The pomelos also have a relatively high vitamin P content, beneficial for cardiovascular disease and obesity patients. They contain insulin-like compounds that help lower blood sugar, and the citric acid in the fruit helps relieve fatigue. Regular consumption of Shatian pomelos can aid digestion, nourish the lungs, clear heat, detoxify, soothe coughs, and promote longevity.