Black-skinned Fruit Sugarcane

Black-skinned Fruit Sugarcane

　　Black-skinned fruit sugarcane, also known as Badila, has been a major cultivated variety in Guangxi since the 1970s.

　　It grows to a height of 2–3 meters with thick stems. The stems are purple-black, about 3–4 cm in diameter, with shorter internodes and a cylindrical shape, weighing approximately 1.5–2.0 kg per stalk. Its characteristics include thin skin, crispy flesh, sparse nodes with rich flavor, high moisture content, and high sugar content. The plant stands upright, grows vigorously, yields highly, and is not prone to lodging. It does not require wooden stakes for support, saving costs, and the cane stems have strong cold resistance. In some areas of Guangxi where sugarcane leaves are entirely frostbitten and turn white, the quality of the cane stems remains unaffected and can be left in the field to extend the growth period and market supply time. When cultivated in well-watered and fertilized dry land or paddy fields with good management, the quality remains largely consistent. It has wide adaptability. This variety has become a best-selling traditional product in China and is one of the key projects in rural industrial restructuring in recent years.

　　Black-skinned sugarcane is one of the specialties of Hengxian County in Guangxi. Black-skinned fruit sugarcane boasts advantages such as thin skin, juicy texture, sweetness, floral aroma, and pleasant taste, making it one of the beloved winter fruits. It has an exceptionally high sugar content of about 18–20%. It is worth mentioning that the sugars in fruit sugarcane consist of sucrose, fructose, and glucose—three components that are easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. It also contains abundant essential trace elements such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and zinc, especially iron, which reaches up to 9 mg per kilogram, ranking first among fruits. Hence, fruit sugarcane is often referred to as the “blood-enriching fruit.”

　　 In addition, fruit sugarcane is rich in 18 types of amino acids and offers benefits such as promoting saliva production, quenching thirst, clearing heat and toxins, moistening the lungs, relieving cough, and strengthening the stomach. It can be consumed raw or juiced and processed into various beverages. With its wide range of uses, it is highly favored by food enthusiasts.

　　 It is mainly produced in areas such as Liantang, Taowei, Baihe, and Fucheng, with an annual output of around 100,000 tons. Its flesh is crispy, juicy, sweet, and thirst-quenching. High-quality stalks are so tender that when held upright and lightly dropped to the ground, they naturally break into several sections.