Guanyang Red Dates

Guanyang Red Dates

　　Guanyang Red Dates are produced in Guanyang, Guangxi.

　　 Since ancient times, Guanyang County has been famous for its red dates. Historical records indicate that as early as the 12th year of Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty (168 BC), the area was already yielding red dates. Chronicles of Guanyang County published throughout various dynasties all highlight red dates as a local specialty, and the Guangxi Yearbook compiled in the 33rd year of the Republic of China also listed Guanyang Red Dates among the region’s specialties.

　　 Guanyang Red Dates are of high quality and rich in nutrients such as sugar, protein, fat, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamins C, B, and BZ.

　　 They have a sweet and mild aroma and are believed to “nourish the spleen, enrich stomach qi, open the nine orifices, assist the twelve meridians, and supplement vital energy,” as well as “moisten the lungs, relieve coughing, nourish the five internal organs, treat deficiencies, and eliminate gastrointestinal stagnation.” [Guanyang Red Dates can be eaten fresh or used medicinally, or even substituted for grain in wine brewing.]

　　 The method for processing red dates into candied dates is as follows: pick dates that are about 80% ripe, prick their skins all around with a needle tip, boil them in hot water, then cool them in cold water, and air dry. Then, boil them again in a pot with sugar at a 1:1 ratio until the dates absorb enough sugar. Remove them, cool, shape by hand into a saddle form, and dry them in the sun to produce candied dates.

　　 These red dates are known for their large size, small pits, thick flesh, and deliciously sweet and fragrant taste. The candied dates made from them are popular both domestically and internationally. Efficacy: Red dates also hold significant medicinal value. They help calm the abdomen, regulate the middle energizer, nourish the spleen, balance stomach qi, open the nine orifices, support the twelve meridians, replenish depleted energy, and alleviate deficiency of bodily fluids. In addition, red dates contain rutin, an active compound effective in treating hypertension. They can also be used as a seasoning or filling for desserts, and when used to stew chicken, duck, or pig’s trotters, they create unique, delicious, and nourishing dishes.