Rongxian Shatian Pomelo

Rongxian Shatian Pomelo

Rongxian Shatian Pomelo is a geographically protected product.

　　The Shatian pomelo originated in Rongxian and was named after being bestowed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, subsequently listed as an imperial tribute. The history of Shatian pomelo cultivation in Rongxian spans over two thousand years, originally known as "Yang’e Zi." During the Qing Dynasty, Xia Jigang from Shatian Village in Rongxian, while in a certain place in the Central Plains, gave his hometown’s renowned fruit "Yang’e Zi" to colleagues to try and presented it to Emperor Qianlong during his southern tour. The emperor tasted it and repeatedly praised it, then bestowed upon it the name "Shatian Pomelo" (in 1771). Since then, Rongxian Shatian pomelo has gained fame worldwide as a treasured fruit offered to the imperial court, widely cultivated across various regions, and by the 1830s had been exported as far as Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia, and Europe and America.

　　Rongxian Shatian pomelo is an outstanding and unique variety among China’s pomelos. It features large, beautifully shaped fruits with sweet taste and excellent storability. The fruits are gourd-shaped or pear-shaped, with a short neck at the stem end; the bottom often bears a ring-shaped mark the size of an ancient copper coin, with radiating grooves inside, commonly referred to as a "chrysanthemum base" or "money base." Each fruit weighs between 1000–1500 grams, with a golden-yellow rind. The flesh is shrimp-meat colored, with crisp, tender juice sacs and a sweet, honey-like flavor. The pomelos mature in late October and are extremely resistant to storage, with fruits able to be kept for 150–180 days. Their flavor improves even more after storage, earning them the reputation of being a "natural canned fruit" among premium fruits.

　　Rongxian Shatian pomelo is highly nutritious. The edible flesh accounts for 51.8–58.8% of the fruit, containing 12–16% soluble solids, 6.4% crude protein (by dry weight), about 12% sugar content, 0.29% acidity, and vitamin C levels of 100–150 mg per 100 grams, ranking highest among all citrus fruits. It also contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, niacin, as well as phosphorus, calcium, iron, and more. It offers benefits such as aiding digestion, reducing phlegm, relieving coughs, moistening the lungs, and sobering up.

　　Rongxian Shatian pomelo has consistently ranked at the top in national and autonomous region pomelo quality evaluations. It won the national pomelo "Gold Award" four consecutive times in 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998. In 1953, it received high praise from international visitors at the Leipzig International Exposition and was regarded as a treasured fruit of China. In 1990, the first session of the 10th Rongxian People's Congress passed a resolution designating the Shatian pomelo as Rongxian’s "county fruit." In 1995, it was named the "Hometown of Chinese Shatian Pomelo." In 1998, the Citrus Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences evaluated it as having relatively neat and dignified fruit shape, vibrant color, thin and delicate peel, tender and smooth flesh, rich flavor, and superior quality.