Jingxi Big Fruit Hawthorn

Jingxi Big Fruit Hawthorn

　　 Jingxi Big Fruit Hawthorn is a deciduous tree of the Rosaceae family, characterized by its tall stature. It originally grew wild in the subtropical regions of southwestern China. It has a long history of cultivation in Jingxi, with records dating back to the 1899 *Guisunzhou Annals*, which stated, “The hawthorn fruits here are very large, fragrant and slightly sour. They can be made into cakes that travel well, and the region produces them in great abundance.” (The “state” refers to Guisunzhou, now known as Jingxi County). This shows that, long ago, Jingxi County was already producing hawthorn cakes made from big fruit hawthorn, which were sold far and wide.

　　 Jingxi hawthorn trees are tall with lush foliage. Among the eight or nine high-quality hawthorn varieties currently found in China, the smallest variety requires over a hundred fruits to make a pound, medium-sized ones around fifty, and even the larger ones need thirty or forty per pound. In contrast, Jingxi hawthorn generally yields one pound with just three or five fruits, and the largest ones can reach a pound with just two. It has been officially recognized by China’s hawthorn research group as “Jingxi Big Fruit Hawthorn.”

　　 Jingxi Big Fruit Hawthorn is a deciduous tree of the Rosaceae family. Individual fruits typically weigh between 100–120 grams, with the largest reaching up to 300 grams. The fruits are brightly colored, fragrant, and have a sweet and tangy flavor. They are rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin C, pectin, red pigments, and various fruit acids.

　　 　　Thanks to their large size and thick flesh, Jingxi Big Fruit Hawthorn can be processed into a variety of products. These include candied hawthorn, hawthorn preserves, hawthorn jam, hawthorn juice, hawthorn wine, hawthorn cake, dried hawthorn slices, hawthorn wedges, sour hawthorn fruit, and hawthorn tea.

　　 Hawthorn is highly nutritious, containing more than ten types of essential nutrients for the human body, including various vitamins. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to aid digestion, relieve stagnation, reduce chest and abdominal fullness, and treat hernia. Folk remedies use its leaves and peels for brewing tea, which can clear heat, resolve phlegm, and is highly effective in treating high blood pressure.

　　 Nowadays, Jingxi Big Fruit Hawthorn is processed into products such as hawthorn cake, hawthorn pulp, hawthorn slices, and hawthorn wine, which are sold across the country.