Shijing Starfruit

Shijing Starfruit

　　Shijing Starfruit

　　The cultivation of starfruit in Lingshui County dates back over 1,100 years. According to the "Qiongzhou Prefecture Records," Shijing starfruit was referred to as "Yawei Renzi" and "Lian." The starfruit produced in Shijing Village, Yingzhou Town, is known as "Shijing Starfruit" and is considered the finest variety in Lingshui. The cultivar is a grafted seedling of sweet starfruit, with white seeds. It begins to bear fruit three to four years after planting and has the characteristic of flowering and fruiting all year round. Annual yield per tree ranges from 50 to 100 kilograms, though some trees can produce over 500 kilograms, and there are trees over 100 years old.

　　Shijing starfruit is soft, sweet, and free of astringency, with plump, smooth ridges, minimal fiber, and excellent quality. When ripe, the fruit turns yellowish-green or red-yellow, and certain premium varieties may stay on the tree and turn red-yellow, known as red fruit. Shijing starfruit contains 10% sugar, along with high levels of calcium, phosphorus, and iron, and is rich in vitamins B and C. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that its "Yawei Renzi" has medicinal benefits such as "dispelling wind-heat, counteracting alcohol toxicity, and treating jaundice..." Whether eaten fresh or processed, it helps relieve summer heat, quench thirst, promote saliva production, invigorate the spleen, and stimulate appetite.